What’s going on with Ijo-Abang ?

            I love this town so much like I love the people indeed. Well, because my families, friends, and my beloved one stayed in this calm place. Even I live in another place now I always miss to stay one more night again. It’s not a very big one, but it’s quite enough to  record and save my full version story for about 20 years. This is my lovely town since I realize that life is hard. As hard till you have to face another real life and go far away from your savety zone. People call it ‘The Heart of East Java’, yeah I do agree with them. A town which have nickname ‘The City of Tolerance’ or ‘Kota Santri’ should be so Friendly and Religious as its tourism catchword. Jombang, a peace of place where my life is started and maybe ended. Okay, so what’s the connection between Jombang and Ijo-Abang?. All right in this occasion I wanna share a little bit information behind Ijo and Abang.

 

            

Historically, Ijo and Abang comes from word Ijo=green and Abang=red. Shortly, green here means prosperity, clarity, and loyality unto God. Whereas red is bravery, dynamic and critical. But people who live in Jombang, they have their own purpose of green and red. For them, green represent santri’s culture, religionist, and Islamic coastal society. While red represent abangan’s society with nationalist understanding and  hinterland and also society which have Mataraman or Kejawen background. Well, the combination of two colour between grenn and red compose a new word called Jombang-a little town in the middle of East Java. Beside this history, there is a story tells that the word Jombang also comes from a legend from its society. The story involve two main character, Kebo Kicak and Surantanu.

            Kebo Kicak is a knight and courageous person. He’s looking for his father who lives in Mojopahit. His name is Patih Pangulang Jagad. But his father gives a requirement to Kebo Kicak that he has to fight with Bajul Ijo. Shortly, Kebo Kicak become the winner and he’s given power to lead west region. His ambition to be the one and only leader makes him do anyting to get high position. Till one day he is fighting with his brother named Surantanu. They both forces to get Pusaka Banteng with a great fight. When they’re getting fight there is light green and red between them. The mixing of this colour appears Jombang which now become a great town.

            No matter how people talk about this place, I’m blessed and so grateful that I was born in this place.

Ringin contong’s picture, the icon of Jombang

Red | Khikmah