Sayyang Pattudu Ceremony in Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi Province

In Mamuju Regency, Sayyang Pattudu Ceremony never fails to amuse tourists and outsiders. It even becomes one of the best attractions of the region and has been considered the local treasure. In a nutshell, this festive event is held in order to celebrate local kids’ achievement in reading through the entire verses of the Holy Koran. In terms of frequency, villagers conduct it once a year, especially during the Maulid Awal Month. Not only it amuses villagers, but the ceremony also becomes a unique entertainment for those who are visiting Mamuju.

The Nuance
In terms of nuance, Sayyang Pattudu is both festive and sacred. When it comes to the number of participants, it varies depending on how big the event is. Usually, it consists of about 50 participants. Most of them are kids, in fact. They wear traditional attire and dance along with the accompaniment. Some of them play the musical instruments while the others ride an ornamented horse! The fact is the participants come from different villages! Even outsiders and tourists can freely watch or join in the ceremony! What about the stage? Well, the ceremony is done in an open street, so it is similar to a parade.

Exploring Sayyang Pattudu Ceremony
For those who want to witness Sayyang Pattudu Ceremony directly, they need to come at the right time indeed. It is because the locals only conduct the ceremony for a special occasion (in order to celebrate the reading through the Holy Koran). Thus, it is recommended to talk to a local guide first regarding the schedule before visiting Mamuju Regency. As an alternative, they can join a tour package offered by an agency. This is considered easier and more efficient, for sure.

As mentioned above, the ceremony is merry and interesting. The local kids and other participants may conduct a parade, featuring some horses as well. The fact is those horses are trained so they are able to move harmoniously with the music and accompaniment. Moreover, the participants wear attractive attire and they are worth a photo shoot! Aside from the dances, some of them also read Mandar poems during the parade. What a festive event!

The best place to witness Sayyang Pattudu Ceremony is at Karama Village of Tinambung Sub-District. That means tourists need to come to Polewali Mandar Regency first before heading to the village. Once again, it is better to come with a local guide who knows more about the event. Have no worries. The service fee is negotiable.

Nearby Attractions

• Gendang Dewata Mountain
• Tammasapi Waterfall
• Jagat Merta Sari Temple

How to Get There
In order to watch Sayyang Pattudu Ceremony directly, tourists need to get to Mamuju Regency first. From Jakarta, they can simply get an airplane at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and head to Tampa Padang Airport at Mamuju right away. The flight takes about 4 hours and 35 minutes, actually. Once arriving at the destination, they can hire a local guide who may tell the exact date and location of the event. Thus, everyone needs to come at the right time in order to watch such annual ceremony.

Where to Stay

• Grand Putra Mamuju Hotel
• Diana Hotel
• D’Maleo Hotel
• Pantai Indah Hotel