Why You Should Not Have To Shave Your Newborn Baby's Hair Until Bald

Baby's Hair Cut Ceremony.
Photo credit: ummu uswah.

In Javanese culture, shaving a newborn baby's hair until bald, after the age of 35 days, is a common thing. Back then, I was experienced the same thing as in Javanese culture, had my hair shaved until bald by my late grandmother.

But, I was not doing it to both of my children. My first daughter had a thick and black hair when she was born. It seemed a little bit weird, if I had to shave her hair until bald. Unlike me when I was a baby, I only cut a little bit of my children's hair after they aged 35 days.

The Javanese Culture of Selapanan

The Javanese ritual of cutting newborn baby's hair aged 35 days, or called as selapan age, exactly at the baby's Javanese weton day of birth. For example: If a baby was born in Sabtu Legi, June 1, 2013. Then the baby's selapanan ceremony will be held in Sabtu Legi, July 6, 2013.

The second Javanese ritual is for a baby aged seven lapan, or 245 days is called tedak sinten, which means to get down in the ground ceremony. Based on the book of Primbon Betaljemur Adammakna by Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Tjakraningrat, the ritual ceremony may not only be held when the baby is at the age of 245 days, but also at the age of 70 days, 105 days, 140 days, 175 days and 210 days. The book is also not mentioned that the newborn baby's hair should be shaved until bald.

The Moslem Tradition of Akika

90% of Indonesian people are moslem, and shaving a newborn baby's hair until bald is a must thing to do, while performing aqiqah, or akika, within seven days after birth, according to the hadith of Ashabussunah (HR: Imam Ahmad, Ashhabus Sunan, and At Tirmidzi).

Is it true that shaving a newborn baby's hair until bald, will make the hair grows thicker?

Indonesian people, especially the Javanese believed that shaving a newborn baby's hair until bald, will make the hair grows thicker. Just like when grasses or leaves are cut, to grow them faster.

The fact, hair is different from grasses or leaves. Hair grows from the follicle beneath the surface of the scalp. The hair growth rates are different in every people. The genetics play a key role in the hair growth. The average rate is about one and a half inch per month. So, whatever we do to the hair on the outside, will have no effects on the hair that is growing in the follicle. Both my children's hair from they were born with, had lost all them, a little by litle, until the age of a year old.

Fontanel, The Door of The Soul

If the eyes are the window of soul, the Javanese people believed that human's ubun-ubun, or fontanel, the crown of the head, is the door of the soul. When a man die, his soul is came out from his fontanel to be taken by the death angel. And so is when a three months fetus in the uterus is given a life by The Lord through its fontanel.

Based on my children's experience, both of them were more immune to diseases, and only sufferred from a light cough, cold or fever, that should not have to stay in the hospital to receive intensive medication. I believed that their immunity had to do with their fontanel, in which was still covered with their hair.

My second son had a thin fontanel in his bald hair since birth. Until he was at the age of four months, his fontanel was still softer than his elder sister when she was at the same age. Because it, I grew my son hair until he was at the age of three years old, and only cut it once when he aged selapan, or 35 days old. Back then, everybody always thought that my son was a pretty girl, due to his long thin hair.

Why do I say that fontanel is the door of the soul? Have you ever been with a person who is at the end of his life? Did you notice the temperature of the his body? The cold of his body rise up from the feet to the head?

So, the Javanese ritual was different from the Moslem tradition, in doing the shaving of a newborn baby's hair. Nowadays, most Indonesian people are combined both ritual, not just in seven days, but after the baby aged 35 days old, whether it will be until the hair is bald, or just a little bit.

Noken, The Near Extinction Heritage

Photo from indonesiaberprestasi.web.id, courtesy of Shinji Kawai.

Noken, a traditional handmade bag by the people in Papua and West Papua, Indonesia, is near its extinction. More than 200 tribes in Papua Island have been using noken to carry many things. Different from an ordinary bag, the tribes people of Papua use their forehead to carry noken.

Just like Mbaru Niang of Flores, which already received the UNESCO's Award of Excellence, in Bangkok, on August 27, 2012. Noken has officially recognised by the UNESCO in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, which needs an urgent safeguarding, in Paris, on December 4, 2012.

Photo from Arjuna/Jubi.

Titus Pekei, the Chairman of the Papua Institute of Ecology, is the man who concerns about the near extinction of noken. The idea to list noken to UNESCO was started in 2008, after Batik and Keris was recognised by the UNESCO as Indonesia national heritage. After the Ministry of Culture and Tourism agreed to his idea, in February 2011, Titus began his research.

Titus felt sad to see many factory-made noken which were sold from IDR 55,000 to IDR 200,000. While the price of original handmade noken could cost between IDR 500,000 to IDR one million. The original noken is expensive because it needs a long time to finish making a noken.

Noken is made from knotted wood fibre. The finest material is from Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon) wood fibre. While the orchid noken, or gold noken is made from yellow or brown color toya orchid.

In Paniai district, Titus with his team from Ministry of Culture and Tourism, found 50 women of noken artists, and 20 men who mastered of making orchid noken. What boasts more, there is a school that includes noken craft making as one of local curriculum, said Titus.

Titus Pekei hard work was finally paid off after the noken proposal was accepted by the UNESCO Committee. But, this is only the beginning, the problem in saving the noken heritage lies on its marketing. The people of Papua and West Papua cannot grow the market outside their home. So, the Indonesian Government should pay more intention to save this near extinction heritage.

References:

Titus Pekei, Penggagas Pengusulan Noken Papua hingga Diakui UNESCO
Jawa Pos, Headline, January 26, 2013.

UNESCO Culture Sector - Intangible Heritage
Noken multifunctional knotted or woven bag, handcraft of the people of Papua
http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?lg=en&pg=00011&USL=00619

Early Moral Education For Pre-School Children

In Indonesia, an easy way to make money is by being a parking-lot guard. The one that was really irritated me, was when I saw corruptions doing by parking-lot guard. I've described this on my early post.

Corruptions in Indonesia had reached to very concern level. Not only for those powerful politicians who had been caught by KPK, Indonesian Corruption Buster Commission, for suspicion on doing corruptions. But after farther investigating, KPK move seemed to be blocked by some slippy rocks.

It often happened that the whistle-blower ended in jail, or even died, because there was no effective witness protection programs. How come, a small grade employee became billionair from his corruption works by doing it alone? It seemed impossible that his manager was not also enjoying the money.

Early Moral Education

A breakthrough had been made by KPK with the launch of children books series titled Tunas Integritas, or in English, The Buds of Integrity. The books are aimed to target for children at Play Groups, or Pre-School.

The books series are composed of six packages in which titled, Wuush, Byuur, Ungu di Mana Kamu?, Ya Ampun!, Ini, Itu?, and Hujan Warna-warni, said the Director of Education and Community Services of KPK, Dedie A. Rachim.

The book's commitment and the efforts of the creators are to eradicating corruptions in Indonesia, in which starts from small community, that is family. In the books itself is represented by the character of Kumbi Family, a dung beetle.

If beetles play a major role in making soil conditions conducive to the growth of shoots plants, the book's aim is trying to provide stimulation for all Indonesian children to grow up with the values of integrity, said Dedie.

To implement laws corruption prevention, the KPK must conduct anti-corruption education at all levels of education. Children who are currently 4-5 years old must be equipped with a weapon (moral) to fight corruption, Dedie added.

The publishing of Tunas Integritas books series are the result of collaboration among KPK and FPBA (Forum Penulis Bacaan Anak, or Children Books Author Forum). The book begins with the training and corruption workshop that was held in Bandung, by the end of 2011, followed by the authors of children books.

FPBA itself is a non-profit organization consisting of authors, illustrators, editors, designers, publishers, participants, journalists, media, and observers of children books. Since established on May 2, 2010, FPBA has the membership of more than 2000 people.

References:

Photo Credit: Dian Nafi

Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi
Kenalkan Nilai-Nilai Antikorupsi, KPK Luncurkan Buku Anak Tunas Integritas di Indonesia Book Fair 2012. (archive)

7 Wonders of Indonesian Houses

After the Komodo Island National Park was dumped from New 7 Wonders last year, the good news came from its neighbour island, the Flores Island. On August 27, 2012, at the announcement of the 2012 Asia Pacific Heritage Award, in Bangkok, Thailand, Mbaru Niang received the UNESCO's Award of Excellence.

The 10 Centuries Civilization

Mbaru Niang, which in Manggarai language means cone house, a traditional house of Wae Rebo village, Manggarai district, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara. There is only 7 houses left in the world, so that it makes 7 Wonders of Indonesian Houses.

Wae Rebo village is located about 1,100 meters above sea level, an isolated village surrounded by panoramic mountains and dense jungle. Wae Rebo village had survived for more than 1000 years, its people now are the 17th generation. Isidorus Ingkul, 84, is the living elder of the 16th generation. According to Isidorus, the life expectancy of every generations in Wae Rebo was about 60 years.

The Journey

A visit to Wae Rebo is made through the district's capital of Ruteng. From the nearest big city of Ruteng, the journey continued with a hard ride to Denge village. Based on the journey by Jawa Pos Reporter, Doan Widhiandono, on September 7, 2012, there are still 4 routes before reaching the Wae Rebo village, that must be on foot to be arrived there.

The Tour de Wae Rebo, said Doan, was started exacly at 2.12 pm East Indonesia Time (UTC+9). The 1st route is Denge - Wae Lomba, across the Coffee and Cacao field. Normally can be finished in 45 minutes, but for Doan the 1st route was far away from normal. Accompanied by Romanus Monde, his guide, he finished the 1st route in 90 minutes, due lots of taking a break.

The 2nd route is Wae Lomba - Posoroko, in which the road was more softer, no more big rocks that must be jumped. Only flat ground which climbed, and keep on climbing. The 2nd route track was not so steep, with the steep slope was only about 30 degrees. He took about an hour on the 2nd route.

On the short 3rd route, Posoroko - Nampe Bakok, Doan was still felt the same torture just as both route before. He arrived to the 3rd post of Nampe Bakok after 30 minutes.

The last route, the final one, Nampe Bakok - Wae Rebo, was a downhill track. He finally arrived in Wae Rebo at 5.58 pm. Crossing in the middle of the small village towards Mbaru Tembong, the main and the biggest of Mbaru Niang in Wae Rebo.

The Cone House

Mbaru Niang has ngando, the main pillar made from Worok wood. While the frame hood of the cone is made from bamboo. Every Mbaru Niang also has paratongang, unique traditional windows. All the houses were built without the use of nail.

Mbaru Tembong is on the East side of Wae Rebo, and at the center amongs others 6 Mbaru Gena, the ordinary Mbaru Niang, on its left and right. Mbaru Tembong has 15 meter of height and the cone diameter. The others 6 Mbaru Gena only have 11 meter of height and the cone diameter.

All 7 Mbaru Niang were built in 5 levels. The 1st level, lutur, is for living. Mbaru Tembong is filled with 8 families, direct descendants of Maro, the 1st generation of Wae Rebo. Other Mbaru Niang is filled with 6 families.

The 2nd level, lobo mehe, is to store foods and goods. The 3rd level, lentar, is to store seeds. The 4th level, lemparae, is for foods stocks. At the 5th level, hekang kode, there's a room called, kilikiang, to keep offerings to the ancestors.

Saving The Heritage

In 2008, Mbaru Niang was almost extinct, due to was only 4 houses left, that is Mbaru Tembong, a house on the left side, and 2 houses on the right side. 3 other houses were vanished because of age.

According to Vitalis Haman, one of the elders of the 17th generation, the number of Mbaru Niang in Wae Rebo must not more than 7 houses. Seven is represented of the seven powers which guard our village, said Vitalis.

In 2011, the community-led rebuilding project, initiated by the Rumah Asuh Foundation, had re-built 3 other houses. The project were also helped by the donations from Tirto Utomo Foundation, Arifin Panigoro, a businessman, and Admiral Sukardi, former Indonesian Minister. The cost to build each Mbaru Niang was more than IDR Rp300 Million (USD $32,000).

References:

• Photo Credit: Leonardus Nyoman
• Jawa Pos, Headline, September 15 & 16, 2012
  Menyinggahi Wae Rebo, Desa di NTT Peraih Penghargaan Tertinggi UNESCO (2),(3/Habis)
• JPNN.COM : Menyinggahi Wae Rebo, Desa di NTT Peraih Penghargaan Tertinggi UNESCO (1)
• UNESCO Office in Bangkok
  UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
  Winners of the 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards (archive)

Update: July 17, 2024

Illegal Parking-lot Guard, Easy Ways to Become Corruptors in Indonesia

Illegal parking guard.
Image is courtesy of tangselife.com.

Corruption is a disease like kleptomania. Overcoming the problem of corruption is like melting an iceberg in the Atlantic ocean. Not visible on the surface but the bottom is higher than Mt. Everest when measured from the seabed.

A complicated subject where I live in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia is parking subscribing problem. Many people complain about parking subscription in Sidoarjo. It costs IDR 25,000 (US$ 1.50) per year for motorcycles. But in practice, if we parked in public places, the road or in government agencies still have to pay IDR 2,000 for parking fee.

Sidoarjo Department of Transportation claims to have been socializing the parking-lot guard. But after 5 years of my experince in the field, there is no reality. Even for Sidoarjo no.1 person (mayor), still have to pay for parking when using his private car. Department of Transportation argued that the park service users who had to fight the parking-lot guard who still remain collecting parking fee.

The information I get from a person who have a bicycle care business said that some strategic parking-lot were auctioned off by unscrupulous of the Department of Transportation. So more busy a parking-lot, the price for a ticket for one month becomes very expensive. The impact was, users should bear the cost of parking that landowners expenses. Parking-lot guards were targeted, they must deposit some millions of Rupiah from their earnings each week to the owner of a parking-lot.

I guess it is useless to eradicate the corruption that is worth billions of Rupiah, if it can not overcome the corruption that is worth only IDR 1.000 but has ancient roots and cultures. Even in the minimarket free marked parking, we still levied by a teenager parking-lot guard. With high unemployment rate, 4.76% (March 2025), population below poverty line 24.06 million, 8.57% from total population of 280 million (September 2024), in Indonesia, an easy way to make money is by being a parking-lot guard.

Update: November 3, 2025.