Theology of Ritual and Cultural Heritage: Negotiating Faith and Tradition in Indonesian Public Festivals

This study aims to examine the representation of theology in Islamic public festivals in Indonesia, focusing on Grebeg Maulud in Yogyakarta, Tabuik in Pariaman, and Sekaten in Surakarta–Yogyakarta. These three rituals are understood not only as cultural practices but also as theological heritage that transforms in the context of modernity. The research method used is qualitative with a descriptive approach, through literature studies utilizing cultural documents, references from the Qur’an, and academic literature. Data analysis is conducted using the interactive model by Miles, Huberman, and Saldana, while the validity test employs source triangulation. The results show that Grebeg Maulud represents the theology of gratitude and social legitimacy through the symbol of gunungan; Tabuik displays the theology of sacrifice assimilated into Minangkabau identity; and Sekaten demonstrates the theology of cultural da’wah through gamelan art and the rakyat market. Modernity encourages these three rituals to be institutionalized as cultural heritage as well as tourism attractions, giving rise to a dialectic between sacredness and commodification. The contestation between Islamic orthodoxy and local traditions strengthens the view that public rituals are dynamic arenas for theological negotiation, where faith, culture, and politics interact. This study concludes that Nusantara Islam presents a contextual, flexible, and globally relevant model of public theology, offering a significant contribution to the international discourse on religion and the public sphere.