SKEHE METUAKAN IN KARANGASEM

Karangasem is the biggest producer tuak in Bali. Almost, in every village in Karangasem, we can meet the citizen who as the tuak producer or the seller like in Merita village, Kubu village, and the other place in Karangasem. A lot of palm wine there makes the people in Karangasem possible to make the tuak in big quantity. Besides, producing the tuak, the people in karangasem also like consuming their own tuak. Their happiness to drink tuak makes them want to drink together with their friends. So they make a group which is well known as sekehe metuakan.

Sekehe metuakan is kind of grouping which have the same interest which is to drink the tuak together. Sekehe metuakan can be easy to be found in the corners along the village street in Karangasem     especially in Kubu, or Merita village. This tradition has been exists for many years. The group is based on the friendship that has known the characteristics of each other and the level of their friends drunk. They avoid inviting the drunker who like making a vandalism or disruption. The new comer is usually difficult to join this group because he should be able to adapt and understand the character of the group. The group of metuakan is also based on the age. Rarely, we can find the older people join with the youth because if they are mixed, they will have different topic each other. The topic of the youth is different with the older people which will make the irrelevance.

Sekehe metuakan has their own rule which have been agreed by the members. This role is not-written but need to be obeyed by the members. The role of each group is usually different with the other group. There is a role which the members need to bring their own tuak based on how many they are able to bring. If they gather in tuak seller, the member usually joint venture, they call it “ngecuk”. Sometimes, there is a member who treats their friends to drink.

During metuakan, it is lead by the Bandar. Bandar is people who pour the tuak into the glass and divide it passes through cycles. In passing though cycles, the Bandar only uses one glass. The member is not allowed to bring their own glass. Moreover, the new comer brings his own glass. The others will assume that he is selfish and dishonor. The uses of one glass symbolize the togetherness. The Bandar also has a job to be a moderator. When discussing about one topic and happens a conflict, the Bandar needs to handle it in order to avoid the disagreement.

In the other event, they drink tuak while megenjekan. Megenjekan is a kind of dance and art. The role of the tuak is important in this dance. The members drink tuak and make a cycle. While drinking the tuak, they sing a song together and dance in the central of the cycle. They sing loudly and dance freely, forgetting the problem in their mind and to have fun with their friends.

Sekehe metuakan in Karangasem has become no formal forum by the people there to say their feeling and problem. More than that, this group also aims to make the togetherness and unity tighter each other.