Panjat Pinang: betel nut trees (areca catechu) climbing
By Karolus Naga
13 October 2008
It has been 63 years since Mr. Soekarno read the declaration of Independence August 17th 1945, Indonesian entering the new stage of living and raises their voices for a single word "freedom". The Independence celebration is one of a party for Indonesian and like most nation around the globe, it celebrated enthusiastically (even though the real freedom still out of reach) with bunch of activities. Usually there will be raise of the flag, the soldiers show their glorious off, dancing's with the 4/4 beat music, sports tournament et cetera. The preparation for the Day took months and everyone involved, young, old, man, women and transsexuals from the whole 16 thousand islands in Indonesia. Each of them displays its own unique with the eternal flame of freedom that burns inside.
And on the Indonesian grass root society there is one activity that always being held for celebrating Independence day: Panjat Pinang or in English: betel nut trees climbing. Originally from colonial tradition as the high class society entertainment where the inlanders (native) or lower class society tried to reach the top of skinless and slimy slippery betel nut trees and grab the gifts that hanged in there (of course from the rich high class people). The prizes that they fought for were pants, shirts, butternut cookies, commodore cigarettes, and others in which for lower class society on the colonial ages are some sort of luxurious stuff. These event occurs on special occasion, a birthday party of a 'sinyo Belanda' (a local term for young master from Dutch Hindis Government family, Dutch kiddo) for instance.
These days Panjat Pinang has become the original menu on every Independence celebration in Indonesia. On several locations, it's being held on the field in the center of the cities, seashores and some on the middle of the small rivers. The betel nut trees that being used usually skinned and moisten with engine lubricant oil. The result is a rigless slippery betel nut trees planted one meter to ground and on the top will be a round bamboo where the prizes being hanged on. The total height would be seven to nine meters from the ground, and a single 'Merah Putih' - the Indonesian flag - placed on the top alongside with the prizes and of course with the stinky slimy lubricant on the heat of the day as the bonus.
Everyone can compete for the prizes, but first each must assembles to a team of seven to nine persons. Other terms really simple, only five people allowed to climb and the rest as the substitution. No climb gear allowed (ropes, ladder etc) and the participant must not wearing shirts/t-shirts just short pants and bare hands. Breaking the rules can cause the penalty and moreover can be disqualified from the event. When assembling a team, there are some things to consider. First, in climbing the formation would be similar to the pyramid so the team should consist of three persons with the greatest power, usually those with the huge work-out body building as the fundamental unit of the climbing. These members should able to hold the triple weight to his owns weight. The next climbers, the middle climbers should have the similar strength with the lower/base climbers. In addition, they who are in this part should have the maximum height. The average height for melanosoid race (Malay, most South East Asian including Indonesian) circa 175-180 centimeters, this will helps the top climbers to reach the top of the betel nut tree. The top climbers, one who responsible for the prizes mostly has smaller body than two climbers that mentioned before. But, these climbers should have ability to conquer the slimy slippery situation and surely none an aerophobia person. When one (the top climbers) is able to steadily standing on the tree, the bottom structure climbers will breakaway and let the top climber to show his capability on taming the slippery tree for reaching the top. When he succeeds, he will pull and raise the flag, yelling for victory and choosing the prizes for the whole team. On some places, the prizes such as DVD, digital receiver, fun bikes, some amount of money et cetera should be hanged on spot, but for several reasons lately, what hanged on the tree just envelopes with the name of the prizes and the team must show it to the event organizer and claim the prizes. The maximum prizes that can be claimed on one succeed climbing for a team is five items. And if the team wants to have more then they should repeat the progress from the beginning. By this, the other team will have the same chances for the prizes. And for your information, this event will attracts many teams so that there will be a maximum time-count for each team to tame the tree. Second, with up to seven and nine person and a maximum five person climbing doesn't make the rest of the team only to sit tight and watch. The substitution should move fast when a climber rise the white flag while the others support the climbers and sometimes directing for he strategy. Third, the climbing it self should be done in a hurriedly. Besides there will be maximum time-count for each climbing (usually 15 minutes), the strength of the bottom climbers (one who be as the foundation due to the pyramid structure) depends on how long can he hold the weight of the other climber. And yeah, when building something the foundation is important rite?
There are some critiques on Panjat Pinang which has becoming a tradition on every Independence celebration in Indonesia from the humanitarian. Their target is to erase this event for good, because there is some sort of dehumanizing Indonesian citizen. Other reason, which so naive for me, is that this tradition was derived from the colonial tradition and must be burnt out from the historical notes. As an Indonesian, I stand against these thought. I learn lot of positive things from the Panjat Pinang. There are team works, responsibilities lesson and united of difference as the nation's motto said 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' (Sanskrit for united of differs). In climbing the betel nut trees, the team consists of person from many background, ethnics, religions and traditions assemble in one for all. Strategies and tactics that used need to be discussed, this indicates a free and open discussion atmosphere as it mentioned on one of this nation principle. The equality for the chance to get the prize indicates the social justice for all. If Panjat Pinang is just a entertainment above ones pain on every Independence celebration in Indonesia or what so called dehumanizing Indonesian as the humanitarian sings, maybe they should compare it to the ballot which for me personally, full with the 'dehumanizing issue'. But whatsoever, critiques are one precious lesson and it kept us to thinking.
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