The Mystical Malam Selasa Kliwon & Malam Jumat Kliwon

If most people in Europe and United States believed that Friday the 13th is the most scariest night,  in Indonesia, most people (especially Javanese) are afraid of Monday & Thursday night in Kliwon cycle. For some people, those nights are the scariest nights due to some urban legends mentioned about frequent ghost appearances during that time. Some other thought that nights are very good nights to do supernatural rituals and spiritual ceremonies.

Why Monday & Thursday night? And what the meaning of "Kliwon cycle"?

THE HISTORY
In Java Island, some people - especially Javanese people - have their own exclusive calendar called Kalender Jawa (Javanese Calendar). It is a calendar that made as the result of the blending among Islam culture, Hinduism - Buddhism culture, traditional Java, and western culture. The Javanese Calendar contains multiple, overlapping separate measurements of times, called cycles, in which consist of : the five day cycle called Pasaran, the common Gregorian seven-day week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on), the month-cycles of Mangsa and Wulan month-long cycles, the year cycles called Tahun, and the octo-ennia (8 year) cycles called Windu.

The calendar was inaugurated by Sultan Agung of Mataram in the Gregorian year 1633.

THE TERMS OF TIME
In Indonesia, people called the seven-day week as below :
1. Monday : Senin
2. Tuesday : Selasa
3. Wednesday : Rabu
4. Thursday : Kamis
5. Friday : Jumat
6. Saturday : Sabtu
7. Sunday : Minggu

Pasaran Cycle : literally Pasaran means "market place". The terms came from the regular time of villagers gathering in local market to meet socially, engage in commerce, buying and selling wares, produce, foods, etc. Usually they are gathering for five days (Monday - Friday), and take a rest for two days. As its name, Pasaran Cycle is consisting five days that divided into days as follow :
1. Legi (means in Javanese : Manis / Sweet)
2. Pahing (Pait / Bitter)
3. Pon (Petak / Partition)
4.Wage (Cemeng / Ugly or dirty)
5. Kliwon (Asih / Love)

In addition, Javanese consider those days' names to have a mystical relation to colors and cardinal direction :
1. Legi represents White and East
2. Pahing represents Red and South
3. Pon represents Yellow and West
4. Wage represents Black and North
5. Kliwon represents Blurred Colors and Center

THE SACRED NIGHTS
Based on Javanese believed, there are two nights which they considered as sacred nights, and there are Monday night in Kliwon Cycle and Thursday Night in Kliwon Cycle. (In normal practice, Indonesian usually call a night name as "the night before". For example, when they said Malam Selasa - which is actually referring to Monday night - it means "the night before Tuesday".)

In the past, based on Islam tradition, Monday and Thursday night time are good time for praying and worshiping God. They choose the night in Kliwon cycle because Kliwon represent "love".
In the past, most kids did not like to pray and prefer to play till very late at night. To make their children willing to pray, most parents set up some fake ghost stories that relating to those night. According to the stories, Ghosts and evil spirts will come out from their graves on Monday and Thursday night of Kliwon and hunt down every lazy children whose do not like to pray to God. After the stories spread, most children were become diligent and love to go to mosque at night for praying.

It turned out those fake ghost stories from the past become Urban Legend in the present. People believe that ghosts and evil spirits really appear on those times. To make the legend become more terrified, some people who believe in supernatural power usually choose those days to practice their rituals. Some spiritual ceremonies mostly also been held in those times. Although the point of the practices and ceremonies are ask blessing and the expression of the worshippers' love, but for most people "Malam Selasa Kliwon" & "Malam Jumat Kliwon" have become sacred nights that should be avoided or assumed "cursed". Even some fanatic believers choose not to do anything during those days and prefer to postpone or cancel everything.

Among those days, "Malam Jumat Kliwon" is the scariest night, because there is a mouth-to-mouth story (based on Islam tradition) said that on that night, ghosts and evil spirits are gaining their optimum power to kill humans. And they will kill as much as possible, before dawn. Because when the dawn came, it is the time for God to punished them all and put them back to hell again. (This story had connection with the tradition of Islam people that worship Friday as Good Friday).

Many movie makers have using the myth of the sacred of Kliwon's Thursday Night as movie objects. Since 1970s until today, there are more than 20 movies that use that kind of title or any title that have connection with that night to attract audiences. So far, it works and most of them are blockbusters.

TEROWONGAN CASABLANCA - The Legendary Scarriest Tunnel in Indonesia

One of the most scariest urban legend in Indonesia is the legend of Terowongan Casablanca (Casablanca Tunnel) that located in the center of Jakarta. This legend has been told and very popular around 1970's, and become urband legend when it's been made into a movie called Terowongan Casablanca (2007). Today, the

The Center of Casablanca Tunnel

haunted story still frightening everybody, especially people who pass the tunnell in the middle of the night.

So what is the legend say about this tunnell?

THE LOCATION OF CASABLANCA TUNNEL

Casablanca Tunnel is an underpass tunnel that located in Basuki Rahmat Street, near Kunian Area, East Jakarta Region. There is no complete details about the date of the tunnel has been built (judging from the structure of the tunnel, I assumed it's been built somewhere around 1980's). In earlier day, the location of Casablanca Tunnel was a graveyard. The graveyard had been moved to another place, near the tunnel. However, because it was not done in proper way,  the spirits were very upset and disturbing people who come across the tunnel.

The sudden shut-off's vehicles right after enteringCasablanca Tunnel

 

 

 

It's been told that since the tunnel been made and open for public, a lot of strange accidents happen within the tunnel. Some witnesses said that they saw a lady suddenly appeared and accross the street. To avoid it, they stop the car in a sudden that make the series of vehicles' crash.

Other witnesses told that their vehicles's machine suddenly stop in the middle of the tunnel, meanwhile the machine's condition is in good condition.

The legend become much more scarier when someone hang himself at the entrance of the tunnel. The incident happened around end of 90's.

THE RED ROBE LADY

Most of the witnesses who encountered the supernatural accident in Casablanca Tunnel, confirmed that they usually saw a lady in red robe. The lady either only stand still at the edge of the tunnel or suddenly appear and cross-over the street. Nobody ever saw her face.

According to Ki Joko Bodo, one of the most famous Indonesia's paranormal, the lady that people saw was called Kuntilanak Merah (The Red Kuntilanak. You can read about "Kuntilanak" in this link : http://theghost-zone.blogspot.com/2010/04/kuntilanak-revenge-of-beauty.html), the most scariest and fiercest ghost. The legend said that she was a girl who burried alive by her boyfriend after he found out she was pregnant after, they were sleep together. Soon the girl died and turn into The Red Kuntilanak, seeking for revenge.

Kuntilanak... not the real one...

People said that while you are entering the tunnel, if you want to avoid The Red Kuntilanak, honk the tunnel three times. By doing this way, you asked a permission to the spirit to entering "its territory". If you did not honk, either they will suddenly show up or your vehicle's machine will suddenly shut-off. Believe it or not, you should try it for yourself.

SUSUK - The Most Powerful Charm in Asia

In every country, it is very common for people to have lucky charm. Some believes that wearing the charm will protect them from any harm. Charms like silver coins, chicken claws, bones, or skeleton dust are very common to be used in Western country. But in Asia, there is a very most famous and powerful charm called Susuk.

Susuk made from iron needles

Susuk (Malay's word, literally means "charm needles") are needles made of gold, steel, diamond, or any other hard and precious objects, which are inserted into the soft tissues of the body to act as talismans. In some countries, like Indonesia, they are not only using metal object but also other things, such as bones, seeds / rice, bullet, small piece of wood, and mercury.

In the past, the used of susuk is for treatment of joint pains and protection againts injury and accidents. But in the present, susuk has been used for a lot of things concerning wealthy, power, and beauty. People believe that having susuk will make them more powerful, richer, handsomer or younger than their own age.

Rumors said that a lot of celebrities and government officials use susuk to get their fame. However, only some of them admit they are using susuk and usually it is only for their own personal protection, not for fame.

THE USES OF SUSUK
There is no any record that shown when susuk has been practised for the first time. But people believed it has been practised long ago within Islamization Era in Asia. In the beginning, susuk was used to heal the illness. Because of its ability to cure, people starting to believe that susuk can make them younger. Then many people (especially female) are using susuk. They not only use 1 but a lot in any part of their body. There is an artist that use susuk in 32 points of her body. In the present, susuk has been used not only female but also male.

INSERTING SUSUK AND ITS PROHIBITIONS

There are three ways to inserting susuk into the body :
First, susuk can be direct insert into any part of the body.
Second, susuk can be swallowed or drank.
The third, is using supernatural way to inserting susuk. Usually paranormal is transfering the susuk into their client's body in mystical way. This is the popular method because faster and easier (the clients have not need to meet the paranormal and doing a ritual).

To make the power of susuk can work perfectly, there are some prohibitions that need to be avoided, depending on the needs of the user. Usually the bigger power the user needed, the bigger prohibitions he / she should avoid. The regular prohibitions are :
1. The user can't eat some variants of banana (mostly golden banana and horn banana) and barbeque on stick.
2. The user also can't walk under cloth string or walk near soiled road (e.g.wet mud).
3. The user is not allow walking under any stairs.

The regular outer parts of body that been inserting susuk are:
1. The area between eye-brows.
2. Cheek
3, Chin
4. The edge of lips
5. Chest or breast
6. Hips
6. Biseps
7. Under navel
8. Genitalia
9. Thigh
10. Calf

The insertion of susuk at the chin

According to most beliefs, susuk must be removed before the person is becoming old or falls into serious ill condition. If not, he / she will have difficulty dying. Even they can die, but their dead will be very torturing and painfull. Removing susuk also need the skill of a knowledgeable person, and usually only the same person who insterted it in the first place can remove it. Imagine if that person has die.....

The most difficult way to removing susuk if its inserted using supernatural transfer, because the placement is not visible and very hard to be found (even using X-ray), and not many paranormal can detected its present in the user's body and lift it.

SUSUK IN PRESENT DAY
Althought the presence of susuk is controversial in many countries in Asia - and some religions are forbidding the using of susuk - but the users of susuk is keep on growing every day.Using susuk will give them more confident. They felt must stronger, more brave, more beauty, and more powerful. Susuk can also cure their ability in sex-life, cure the frigidity, and protect their husband / wife from having affair with others. And susuk can open their "third eyes" and make them able to see the unseen. This way can help them avoiding unvisible danger that being done by their nemesis.

Nuno sa Punso - The Cursing Dwarf

It also known as Duwende, Nuno sa Punso is a dwarf-like creature from Phillippine. It is small (did not mention what is its size), some claim it is invisible to the human eyes, but others said it is about the size of small insect. Physically, Nuno sa Punso appeared as an old man (literally, "nuno" means old men, usually refer to grandparents, meanwhile its full name Nuno sa Punso literally means "Grandparent of the Anthill"). 

Mostly, Nuno lives in anthill called Punso. But they also live in other places, such as large rock, trees, along riverbank, inside caves, and / or people's backyards. The legend said that Nuno have ability to curse people who purposely trample around, urinate or damage their punso. People who got Nuno's curses, might be swelling or pain in any part of their body, vomiting blood, or uninating black liquid. If the intruder is within range, Nuno can spit them. The effect of the curse only localized to where the spit lands on the person's body. If it land at the foot, the intruders will have foot problem. If Nuno spits on the elbow, they will have elbow joint pains.

People believe, if one gets unable cure illness, it's been broguth on by a Nuno. The person who can cure Nuno's curse is Albularyo (a practitioner of traditional medicine). Usually Albularyo will do a ceremony called Tawas, in which a piece of a candle is melted on a disc or spoon. When melted, the wax is poured into water. An image will appear in the wax. The Albularyo will interpret the image to determine the possible cause of the sickness.

Another way to be cured, the victim's family must provide fruits or other food, drinks, and material goods to Nuno as an offering and ask for Nuno's forgiveness.

To avoid curse from Nuno, childen are always reminded not to play at noon, and they should be in the house before six in the evening. They also must ask for permission when trespass unfamiliar area, by saying "Tabi tabi po" (means "Please let me pass by").

Aswang - Evil Vampire Creature

Spanish known this creature since their colonization in Philippines in 16th century. It is the most feared among other mythical creatures of Philippines.

Philippians known Aswang - sometimes called Asuwang - as a combination of vampire and witch. They mostly appeared in female form. But sometimes also appearing as an old man. The legend of Aswang are vary from region to region, so none of the characteristic can be ascribed to the term. Mostly it portrayed as a monster with wings flap loudly when it's far away and quietly wen it's nearer. Aswang has been a very famous, especially in  West Visayan area, such as Capiz, Iloilo, and Antique. In Capiz, Aswang is also called as Tik-Tik or Wak-Wak.

People believed Aswangs living as regular people. As people, they are quiet, shy, and elusive in the day time. Most of them are prefering to take occupations related to meat, such as buthcer. Usually they are isolating themselves from public as well. But in the night time, they transformed into creatures and taking form of animals like pig, bird, cart, and dog. They enjoy eating unborn fetuses and small children, favoring livers and hearts. They are fast and silent, and some have thin body that can hide themselves behind a bamboo post.

Dealing with Aswang can be done by throwing salt and / or semen at it because people believe it can burn their skin. Another way for dealing with them is to keep a red pouch full of gingers and coins. The ginger's smell will keep hem away, while the coins are used for preventing them from lifting us up.

People also believe that Aswang is fear of bullet, feathers, and canes. Hung garlic on doors and window will beat off Aswang.

Many films about this creature have been made, such as Aswang (1992), a Phillippines movie, starring Almo Moreno, Manilyn Reynes,, Aiza Seguerra, Aljon Jimenez, and directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. The Hollywood version of Aswang creature has been made in 1994 and called The Unearthling.

Mae Naak - The Ghost of A Loyal Wife

One of the well-known ghost-tale from Thailand is Mae Naak. Nobody in Thai does not know Mae Naak or Nang Nak. Some people believe, Mae Naak was really exist and she was born and lived in Phra Khanong, area of Bangkok about 130 years ago, during the period of King Rama IV (1851 - 1868) and died of childbirth complications when she was eighteen years old, which is in the early part of King Rama V's regime (1868 - 1910).

According the legend, Mae Naak (literally "Miss Naak") was a beautiful young woman lived with her husband Nie Mak. When Naak was pregnant, Mak is called off to war. Sadly, when Mak is going for war, Nak and the child she is carrying die during childbirth. When Mak returns home, he finds his loving wife and child waiting for him and nothing wrong with them. What he did not know, her wife and child had turned into spirits. One day, when Naak is preparing phrik nam (fish sauce with lemon, garlic, and chilli), she drops a lime down to the cellar. In her haste, she extends her arm to pick the lemon from the uppon floor through the floor's hole, not knowing Mark saw the whole event. Realized his wife is a ghost, Mak runs away into the night.

Discovering his husband is leaving, Naak pursues him. But Mak conceals himself behind blumea bush (according to Thai folklore, ghosts are afraid of the sticky blumea leaves). After that, Mak runs to Wat Mahabut Temple, where Naak can't enter the holy area.

Angrily, Naak terrorizes the people of Phra Khanong. Eventually, Naak's spirit is bound by a powerful exorcist. After confining her within a earthen jar, he throws it into the canal.

Mae Naak's story is popular and inspires many people to her true love and devotion for Mak. In the Phra Khanong canal , at Wat Mahabut Temple, there is a shrine dedicated to Mae Naak. In the present, the temple can be found in a small side road off Sukhumvit soi 77 (also known as On Nut Road). The shrine consists of a low building under large tress whith a roofing tha encompasses the tree trunks. The main shrine has a number of minor shrines surrounding it. There is a wide fences area around the shrine witha gate towards the Wat Mahabut Temple compound and another more elaborate roofed gate facing the canal.


The legend of Mae Naak has been been the subject of numerous films and television series in Thailand. So far there are three movies (Mae Nak Phra Khanong (1958), Nang Nak (1999), and Ghost of Mae Nak (2005)), 1 animated movie (Nak, 2008), and 1 opera (Mae Naak, 2003 and 2005, composed by Somtow Sucharitkul), and 1 musical show (Maenak Prakanong the Musical, 2009, directed by Takonkiet Viravan and starring Myria Benedetti) have been produced to tell the tales of this scary but romantic legend.

Orang Minyak - Rapist Spirit or Crazy Man with Oil?

One of the strange myth and legend from Malaysia is about Orang Minyak. Literally, Orang Minyak means "oily man", and has been known as a man who was cursed in an attempt to win back his love with magic. Somehow, he turn into oily black man. To gain and expand his power, Orang Minyak must raped 21 virgins within a week. 

Actually the legend of Orang Minyak was popularized by a 1956's movie (Sumpah Orang Minyak / The Curse of The Oily Man, starring and directed by P. Ramlee). Somehow, people believe Orang Minyak really exist. 

The legend of Orang Minyak become well-known starting 1960's when there was a sequins of unexplained rape cases in several Malaysian towns, such as Taman Keladi and Taman Angsana in Sungai Petani, Kedah. Orang Minyak usually described as naked human covered with oil, and invincible. In short, Orang Minyak is a supernatural rapist that is hard to see and hard to catch. 

Some people speculated that Orang Minyak is just a regular rapist who uses black grease to camouflage (since his acts was made at night, the black grease can make him unseen). The grease also make the pursuers difficult to catch him. But somehow, another questions appear that make explanations are difficult to make, such as : How Orang Minyak can appear in lock room and can escape from it? The question still remain unexplained. 

The appearance and the report about the appearance of Orang Minyak still continued till today, but in reduced frequency.