Getting to know the rain shaman, a profession that became viral after appearing in MotoGP

The MotoGP event at the Mandalika circuit has indeed stolen a lot of public attention, but I think that attention must now be divided. Rara Istiati Wulandari, the person who managed to "modify" the rain on the circuit, went viral and was even praised by the outside media. Believe it or not, after Mbak Rara's ritual yesterday the rain stopped.

The rain shaman profession itself is believed to have existed for hundreds of years. So here I will discuss it.

The Rainmaker Profession is Still Trusted in Asia

The rain shaman, or what is called the 'Rain Shaman' by the outside media, is a traditional shaman in Indonesia who is often called upon for big ceremonies so that the event can run smoothly without the disturbance of rain. Events that often use the services of a Rain shaman are usually weddings, music concerts, or sporting events.

The way the Rain shaman usually works is by "moving" the rain from the event location to another location. The ritual itself is actually quite diverse. Different countries have different "rituals".

Apparently, the ritual of preventing rain is also still practiced in other countries, even developed countries. In neighboring countries, for example. The ritual to keep out rain in Thailand is done by sticking a lemongrass stick into the ground and asking a virgin girl to pray for the rain to stop. This ritual has proven to be effective and is still believed by modern circles.

Japan, a country known for its technological advancements, also still believes in rain shaman. When it rains, the Japanese will hang white dolls on the windows with string. This doll is called Teru Teru Bozu, where Teru in Japanese means "bright" and Bozu means "monk". They believe this doll can ward off rain on a special day.

Multiple Responses from Society

The rain shaman action immediately went international after it was broadcast and uploaded to the official Twitter account @MotoGP. The MotoGP account even thanked Mbak Rara for stopping the heavy rain. Unfortunately, not a few people feel ashamed and throw insults. Some of them believe that without a rain charmer, the weather will also be sunny when it's time.

On the other hand, there are still people who defend Mbak Rara. They consider this ritual as part of Indonesia's diverse traditions and culture, which should be introduced to outsiders. After all, this can't be seen when you're in another country, so it's definitely memorable for athletes.

Image source from Google.com