Tari Guel

One of the most famous Gayo art and cultural treasures besides Saman from Gayo Lues, Didong (Central Aceh District/Bener Meriah District), is Guel Dance. One dance that supposedly mentioned, originated from the story of the conquest of the White Elephant in the interior of the Jungle during the sultanate of Aceh past.

Set aside, at that time at the request of the sultan of Aceh, to bring a tail of the White Elephant to the center of Aceh Darussalam kingdom, a ritual ritual was performed to provoke the white elephant out of the forest.

The result, the king of the forest is out, but difficult to conquer or dijamakan. However, Sengeda who is a relative of the Kingdom of Linge in the interior of Gayo and acts as a handler, asks the entourage who conquered the elephant danced to the accompaniment of music, like liukan trunk of the elephant.

Immediately the elephant softened and followed the handler's instructions. It is also said that the White Elephant is said to be the incarnation of one of the sons of the king in the Kingdom of Linge.

Guel itself means to ring. A number of dance choreographers and researchers have said this dance is not just a dance, but a fusion of literary art, music art and dance art itself.

Therefore, for the Gayo community, Guel Dance is not only an ordinary dance but Guel Dance is a culture that has strong traditional meanings and traditions. This dance contains many philosophies in it.

Currently, this dance is mostly used for Gayo density events, such as welcoming the officials or leaders who come to the area Gayo.Tari Guel also now often held during the wedding, when will welcome the bride.

This is done, for the art and culture and traditions of Gayo society, which is the oldest tribe in the interior of Aceh is not lost just like that, amid the rapid modernization of foreign art and culture that continues to colonize and infuse the soul of young people today.

Hopefully, this art and many other arts in Aceh continue to be sustainable and not lost and crisscrossed in the times. Again, Hopefully.

Koetaradja, July 30, 2018
@catataniranda

Guel, Tarian Penakluk Gajah Putih

Salah satu khazanah seni dan budaya Gayo yang sangat terkenal selain Saman dari Gayo Lues, Didong (Aceh Tengah/Bener Meriah), adalah Tari Guel. Satu tarian yang konon disebutkan, berawal dari kisah penaklukan Gajah Putih di pedalaman Rimba Raya pada masa kesultanan Aceh tempo dulu.

Dikisihkan, kala itu atas permintaan sultan Aceh, untuk membawa se ekor Gajah Putih ke pusat kerajaan Aceh Darussalam, maka dilakukan ritual ritual guna memancing agar gajah putih tersebut keluar dari hutan.

Hasilnya, sang raja hutan tersebut keluar, namun sulit ditaklukan atau dijinakan. Namun, Sengeda yang merupakan kerabat Kerajaan Linge di pedalaman Gayo dan bertindak sebagai pawang, meminta para rombongan yang menaklukan gajah tersebut menari dengan diiringi musik, laksana liukan belalai gajah.

Seketika itu juga gajah tersebut melunak dan mengikuti perintah sang Pawang. Konon juga, Gajah Putih tersebut dikatakan merupakan jelmaan salah seorang putra dari raja di Kerajaan Linge.

Guel sendiri berarti membunyikan. Sejumlah peneliti dan ahli koreografer tari pernah mengatakan tarian ini bukan hanya sekedar tari, melainkan perpaduan dari seni sastra, seni musik dan seni tari itu sendiri.

Karenanya, bagi masyarakat Gayo, Tari Guel bukan hanya sebuah tari biasa namun Tari Guel merupakan budaya yang memiliki makna dan tradisi adat yang kuat. Tarian ini mengandung banyak filosofi di dalamnya.

Saat ini, tarian ini banyak digunakan untuk acara-acara keberasan dibumi Gayo, seperti penyambutan para petinggi atau pemimpin yang datang ke daerah Gayo.Tari Guel juga kini sering digelar saat pesta perkawinan, ketika akan menyambut kedua mempelai.

Hal ini dilakukan, agar seni dan budaya serta tradisi masyarakat Gayo, yang merupakan suku tertua di pedalaman Aceh ini tidak hilang begitu saja, di tengah derasnya modernisasi seni dan budaya asing yang terus menjajah dan merasukan jiwa anak muda saat ini.

Semoga, seni ini dan banyak ragam seni lainnya di Aceh terus lestari dan tak hilang dan lekang di makan zaman. Sekali lagi, Semoga.

Koetaradja, 30 Juli 2018
@catataniranda

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