MENJAGA TRADISI DI TENGAH DISRUPSI: FENOMENA OTONAN VIRTUAL DALAM BUDAYA DAN AGAMA HINDU

I Made Widiantara

Authors

I Made Widiantara Politeknik Negeri Bali

Keywords:

Otonan Ceremony, Virtual Ritual, Balinese Hinduism, Cultural Resilience, Covid-19 Pandemic, Digital Culture, Religious Adaptation

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to the implementation of religious ceremonies worldwide, including the otonan ceremony, an important birthday celebration in Balinese Hindu culture. This study explores the adaptation and transformation of the otonan ceremony in the context of the pandemic, with a specific focus on the utilization of virtual technology. The research aims to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of the otonan ceremony, the ways in which the Balinese Hindu community adapts and utilizes virtual technology to conduct the ceremony, the preservation of spiritual meaning and values in virtual settings, and the reflection of cultural and religious resilience in the face of disruption. The study employs a qualitative approach with a case study method, involving in-depth interviews with Balinese Hindu practitioners and religious leaders. The theoretical framework draws upon concepts of cultural resilience, digital culture, ritual theory, and the integration of technology in religious practices. The findings reveal that the Balinese Hindu community has successfully adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic by conducting otonan ceremonies virtually, using video call applications such as WhatsApp and Zoom. The spiritual meaning, values, and essence of the ceremony are maintained through sincere intentions, active participation, ritual adaptations, and the use of sacred symbols. The phenomenon of virtual otonan reflects the resilience and adaptability of Balinese Hindu culture and religion in navigating the disruptions caused by the pandemic while preserving the core spiritual elements of the ceremony. This study contributes to the understanding of cultural and religious transformation in the digital era and offers valuable insights into the role of technology in sustaining and adapting religious traditions during times of crisis. The findings highlight the importance of cultural resilience and the innovative ways in which communities maintain their religious practices in the face of adversity

References

Adnyana, I. W. S., & Putra, I. P. A. (2022). The Role of Digital Media in Preserving the Essence of Otonan Ceremony in Bali during the Pandemic Era. Journal of Media and Religion, 21(3), 185-201. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15348423.2022.2077142

Artatik, I. G. A. (2019). OTONAN SEBAGAI UPAYA MEMULIAKAN MANUSIA DI BALI. Dharmasmrti: Jurnal Ilmu Agama Dan Kebudayaan, 19(1), 51-55. https://doi.org/10.32795/ds.v10i1.334

Brata, I. B. (2020). Cultural Resilience in the Midst of a Pandemic: The Case of Bali. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 10(2), 1-24. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/kajianbali/article/view/66006

Wallace, C. (2017). Cultural Resilience: The Production of Rural Community Heritage, Digital Archives and the Role of Volunteers. Journal of Rural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2015.05.002

Darmayasa, I. N. (2014). Bhagavad Gita: Nyanyian Tuhan. Denpasar: Yayasan Dharma Sthapanam. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=8G5MDwAAQBAJ

Dewi, N. P. M., & Dartanto, T. (2021). Resiliensi Sosial Budaya Masyarakat Bali dalam Menghadapi Pandemi COVID-19. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 11(2), 221-242. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/kajianbali/article/view/75808

Eiseman, F. B. (1990). Bali: Sekala and Niskala: Essays on Religion, Ritual, and Art. Periplus Editions. https://books.google.com/books?id=oQQ9EAAAQBAJ

Katz, E., Blumler, J. G., & Gurevitch, M. (1974). Uses and Gratifications Research. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 37(4), 509-523. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2747854

Maswinara, I. W. (1999). Bhagavad Gita: The Holy Book of Hindus. Surabaya: Paramita. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=9ZIMAQAAMAAJ

Nugroho, Y. (2018). Penggunaan Media Digital dalam Pelestarian Budaya Lokal di Indonesia. Jurnal Komunikasi, 12(2), 165-176. https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/jika/article/view/36802

Paramita, I. B. G. (2020). Digitalisasi Upacara Agama di Bali Selama Pandemi COVID-19. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 10(2), 51-68. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/kajianbali/article/view/66190

Picard, M. (2017). Kebalian: Konstruksi Dialogis Identitas Bali. Pustaka Larasan. https://opac.perpusnas.go.id/DetailOpac.aspx?id=1157884

Pradana, G. Y. K., & Arcana, K. T. P. (2021). Virtual Reality and the Transformation of Religious Rituals: A Case Study of Otonan Ceremony in Bali during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture, 10(2), 145-162. https://brill.com/view/journals/rmdc/10/2/article-p145_145.xml

Pramana, I. P. Y. (2020). Transformasi Ritual di Era Digital: Studi Kasus Upacara Otonan di Bali. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 10(1), 35-52. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/kajianbali/article/view/58405

Pudja, G., & Sudharta, T. R. (2004). Manawa Dharmasastra (Manu Dharmasastra). Jakarta: Pustaka Mitra Jaya. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=eiVFAAAAYAAJ

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). Free Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=9U1K5LjUOwEC

Rothenbuhler, E. W. (1998). Ritual Communication: From Everyday Conversation to Mediated Ceremony. SAGE Publications. https://books.google.com/books?id=ERNtQgAACAAJ

Sanjaya, I. K. S. A., & Pradana, G. Y. K. (2019). Peran Media Sosial dalam Pelestarian Budaya Bali. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 9(2), 173-188. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/kajian/article/view/54824

Short, J., Williams, E., & Christie, B. (1976). The Social Psychology of Telecommunications. John Wiley & Sons. https://books.google.com/books?id=dJw8AAAAIAAJ

Sitompul, M. R. (2021). Makna dan Pengalaman Ritual dalam Upacara Virtual: Studi Kasus Upacara Keagamaan di Indonesia selama Pandemi COVID-19. Jurnal Antropologi Indonesia, 42(1), 1-18. https://journal.ui.ac.id/index.php/jai/article/view/13253

Sudharta, T. R. (2001). The Otonan Ceremony in Balinese Life Cycle. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 1(1), 35-48. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/kajianbali/article/view/15630

Sudharta, T. R. (2019). Sarasamuscaya: Smerti Nusantara Bahasa Indonesia. Denpasar: ESBE Buku. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=8%5FrDDwAAQBAJ

Supelli, K. (2020). Peran Teknologi Komunikasi dalam Pelestarian Budaya di Era Digital. Jurnal Komunikasi, 14(1), 1-12. https://jurnal.kominfo.go.id/index.php/jurnalkomunikasi/article/view/2661

Wiana, I. K. (2002). Makna Upacara Yadnya dalam Agama Hindu. Paramita. https://opac.perpusnas.go.id/DetailOpac.aspx?id=367153c

Yogaswara, I. W., & Kusuma, I. N. W. (2023). Virtual Otonan: Negotiating Identity, Community, and Spirituality in the Digital Realm. Journal of Cultural and Religious Studies, 15(1), 22-39. https://www.ijcrs.net/index.php/ijcrs/article/view/217

Yudha, I. B. P., & Paturusi, S. A. (2021). Transformasi Upacara Yadnya pada Era Tatanan Kehidupan Baru di Bali. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 11(1), 51-72. https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/kajianbali/article/view/75192