Forgotten Tradition, Sustainable Harmony

This research delves into the Mendhak Sanggring Tradition observed in Tlemang Village, Lamongan, Indonesia, a tradition at risk of fading into obscurity as a significant repository of sustainable multicultural education within the contemporary milieu dominated by cultural uniformity. Employing a qualitative case study approach coupled with thematic analysis, underpinned by idiographic interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) focusing on the principal participants of the ritual, this investigation entailed participant observation, extensive interviews encompassing eighteen diverse sources (comprising traditional and religious leaders, women, youth, government officials, and representatives from the tourism sector), two focus group discussions, and scrutiny of pertinent documentation. Findings reveal that engagement in the Mendhak Sanggring ritual triggers spiritual, social, ecological, and economic-touristic dimensions concurrently, fostering an informal environment for intergenerational and interfaith multicultural education. Nevertheless, this process is underscored by complexities such as gender-based exclusion in culinary rites and opposition from certain religious factions regarding the ritualistic offerings. This study advances a theoretical framework delineating indigenous multicultural pedagogy that amalgamates ritualistic, ecological, and economic-touristic aspects. Additionally, it advocates for a community-driven cultural preservation strategy to safeguard this tradition against the encroachments of modernization and mass tourism.