Jathilan Horse Dance: Spirit Possession Beliefs and Practices in The Present-Day Java
IKAT: The Indonesian Journal of Southeast Asian Studies January 7, 2020 Eva Rapoport 7 citations
Jathilan, a traditional Javanese trance dance also known as a horse dance for its woven bamboo horse effigies, remains popular in folk culture, performed for ritual or entertainment. Trance is its main attraction, interpreted locally as spirit possession: spirits enter performers' bodies, allowing feats of invulnerability such as eating glass, walking on hot coals, or being run over by a motorcycle. This paper describes how trance is performed and understood, drawing on literature, practitioners' accounts, and observed performances. It also situates jathilan within broader Javanese beliefs and practices involving spirits, possession, and exorcism that persist alongside Islam.