CANOLI: GUARDIAN OF SACRED BANQUET IN THE RITUAL ACTIVITIES OF KASEPUHAN CIPINANG, BANTEN, INDONESIA

The Canoli is a woman who possesses indigenous knowledge and is the guardian of the sacred banquet in agrarian Sundanese communities. This research uses a qualitative paradigm with ethnographic methods. The concept of Levi-Strauss’ culinary triangle method is used to explain this. The results demonstrated that during the process of cooking rice, it is transformed from the raw state to the cooked state. This process is symbolic, representing the transformation from nature to culture. Based on the binary opposition between raw and cooked, the role of Canolis as guardians of sacred food can be explained. Canoli has legitimacy in the ritual of honouring Sang Hyang Sri. Her role gives her a high social status and respect. Canoli’s role is to act as a ritual intermediary for the belief in Sang Hyang Sri. Ritual offerings to Sang Hyang Sri can maintain social balance, reinforce hierarchy, and strengthen community ties.