Dialectic of Religion and Culture in the Gawe Alip Rite of the Sasak Community

The Sasak community has long developed a dialectical relationship between religion and culture since the early stages of its human existence, in which religion and culture mutually influence each other in daily life. Islam is the predominant religion among the Sasak people; however, cultural practices remain deeply rooted and influential in their lives. This is evident in various rituals that are shaped by a collective consciousness involving kinship systems, religious beliefs, and cultural interactions. Islam provides guidance and rules for performing these rituals, including Gawe Alip, which is held every eight years (se-windu), as well as rituals related to marriage, funerals, and other traditional ceremonies.
This research employs a qualitative methodology aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the Gawe Alip rite, its relationship with Islam, its meaning, and its influence on the Sasak people, along with the challenges in preserving it. Data collection was carried out using ethnographic sources related to the Sasak, including literature reviews, observations, and interviews. The analysis was conducted using the structuralist approach of Claude Lévi-Strauss, aiming to uncover the underlying meaning of the Gawe Alip ritual. Fundamentally, this ritual reflects how the Sasak people idealize a central position in life—the center—which symbolizes their transformed spiritual identity. This worldview is rooted in Islamic beliefs, particularly the transcendental faith in si epyang ita / neneq kaji (venerated ancestors), through which the Sasak sacralize reality.