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mote good or ward off evil fortune. Suppose some relative is on a journey, some new business being set on foot or a child being sent for the first time to school. The safe return of the traveller, success in the undertaking, quickness of learning on the child's part are all sought to be promoted by a religious feast the devotional character of which is only shown by a prayer for prosperity (duʿa salamat), when one of those present happens to know such a prayer. In the same manner dreaded evil is charmed away, as for instance during an epidemic, or after an alarming dream or threat. These are the sort of feasts which in some districts of Java have the special name of slamětans (good-luck feasts). But as we have already said, siděkah, slamětan and kanduri are generally confused in the colloquial, and in Acheh they are all included under the single expression kanduri or kanuri.
The name siděkah, under which these feasts are most generally known in Java, is a corruption of the Arabic sadaqah, i. e. pious or devout offerings. Such a feast is indeed a pious offering in a double sense, for the feast is given to guests distinguished to some extent by their leading a religious life, and the recompense of the good work thus done falls to the share of the deceased. Sěděkah is also used in its proper sense of a present with pious intent, when for instance a gift in money or kind is offered to a leubè, ulama, sayyid or other devout person[1].
The word kanduri supplies both meanings in the Achehnese vernacular.
The kanduri of fruits.6. Kanduri bòh kayèë (Jumada ʾl-ākhir) owes its name to a custom common amongst the Achehnese. On some one day of this month they purchase fruits of every kind to be found in the market. These they bring as a kanduri or pious offering to the mosque or meunasah, where they are enjoyed by those of the faithful who are present in these places of worship, under the supervision of the attendants of the mosque or the Teungku.
The original purpose of this custom seems now to have been forgotten by the Achehnese themselves. At present these offerings are regarded as a kanduri keu ureuëng chiʾ i. e. a kanduri for the advantage of the giver's ancestors, but which also serves to promote his own prosperity.
- ↑ In Malay sěděkah is only used in the sense of "alms", "kanduri" being, as in Acheh, the sole word for a feast of the nature described above. (Translator.)
