CACI AMAZING WHIPPING DANCE OF MANGGARAI

Caci amazing whipping dance is basically the major identity of manggarai culture. It's recognized as the prime of entire culture of manggarai for representing the combination of aesthetic values, humane values and civilization of local people completely. 

The virility, toughness, determination and sportivity are the main virtues behind the dance of caci whipping performed.

Brief history of caci

Caci was basically traditional war of manggarai people. It was meant by their ancestor to prove men's virility by being involved in one by one war. Thus it's named caci means one by one war derived from word CA means One and CI means testing. Literally caci itself means the determination of virility by doing one by one test/war. 

Although Caci dance appears to be inherent of subtle violence elements, it basically signals of peaceful message, chivalry without any grudge adhered afterward. 

Latter on, caci slowly transforms into a traditional dance that is quite popular not only locally but also internationally. Caci has been the delight performance of culture to the visitors both local and foreigners. On account of business interest, the fragmentation of caci should be done to catch up with the toursim reason in which only to explain the caci and local culture to the visitors in brief.

Who perform caci dance?

Caci is definitely perpetrated by two man, each plays role as agressor and the defender.
The aggressor use a whip made of buffalo leather with a handle of wooden branch covered by buffalo leather too.
While the defender uses a shield to protect from whip strike and holding a 4 meters crooked bunch of rattan that is tied with a buffalo leather for additional protection.

Both of the them, aggressor and defender use the attributes like mask, shield, whip and head covered resembly made like the horn of buffalo called Panggal to protect the head and face. Meanwhile, well linked bells is tied on the waist creating peculiar sound as they shuffle around the arena where caci is held. 

From waist downward body portion, participants wear traditional woven sarong called songket and the scarf on the middle positionally staigth in front and two handkerchiefs put on left  and right waist sides. The upper portion of body from waist to neck remains uncovered. According to its rule, the strikes are only hit on bare body portion and the face. It's prohibited to whip on the area downward of the waist.

How Caci is performed?

The participants, defender and aggressor do the whipping strike in reversed. The agressor is only allowed to hit once strike to the defender and never doing double or more. The aggressor makes a shuffle on the ground while holding a whip. Sometimes, he will sing a folk songs in order to loosen the defence of defender then make a whip. The chant and sounds of gong and drum makes the situation more lively and giving extra ardor for the participants. The aggressor will run backward and forward, making a small jump catching much the audience attention and a tense atmosphere waiting for a whip done as the aggressor finds for fissure to hit. 

After the strike, defender will sing a song signifying if he get hit or not. Afterward, he will give the shield to the aggressor reversed.

The defender should defend himself as much as possible, otherwise the whip will slash the body flesh or the face. The winner or looser is determined by the portion of the body that get whipped. If it hits the face, the defender will be the losser. Even if it makes serious wound on the body, it won't measure to win caci. The flowing blood from slashed body symbolize the fertilization of the land.

When caci is performed?

 
Caci traditional dance is peformed during thanks giving ceremony called penti of manggarai people. It usually during dry season between july to august.
Caci basically is meant to express gratitude to gods for the graces and plentiful harvest along the seasons of the year.
Caci as the most integrated part of culture context never be separated from penti rite. This's usually accompanied with the sacrifice of animal like buffalo or pigs and being roused by gong and drum sounds.

Caci is usually done by two different village. The host and the guest called Meka Landang. This guest village ( meka landang) is invited to partake in thanksgiving ceremony of the host. As they come for the invitation, they will welcome by parade where the folk songs of welcome are sung. The parade will lead to Mbaru Gendang, center of ceremony of the village(all in manggarai).

Beside during penti, caci is also held during marriage, birth and funeral. yet it's only limited for the case of high social class in the village, those are called to ascribe of noblemen.
 

As the modernization immersing, caci is more used for commercial and business purpose. It's more on to draw the attention of visitors especially with significant increase of visitors to this place. Consequently, the value of caci is mitigated and constrained for tourism purpose only though in fact people are grateful for their culture becomes more popular to the world.

Caci dance is quite popular in aline with the flooding of visitors even from another countries as  flores has been included in one of region destination of the world.

Where to see caci?

Caci is performed during dry season in certain village of manggarai. But most oftenly done in Wae Rebo village as part of culture exhibition of this tourism destination. besides, the best time to see caci is during indepence day festival in central town ruteng. It's usually performed to rouse the independence day. of the ultimate travel destination religion of the world.