The month of Muharram brings a different pulse to the city of Pariaman, a coastal city facing directly into the Indian Ocean, about 50 kilometers north of Padang, West Sumatra. For the local community, the turn of the Islamic new year is not just a marker of time in the Hijri calendar, but the beginning of a cultural event that has been passed down through generations.
They call it Month of Tabuik.
This name was born not without reason. During Muharram, two nagari in Pariaman—Nagari Pasa and Nagari Subarang—begin to build Tabuik, a towering structure about 12 meters high made of wood, bamboo, and rattan, adorned with various ornaments crafted with the precision of artisans' hands. During this period, migrants flock back home, making Muharram the second-largest homecoming moment after Eid al-Fitr.
The Tabuik Pasa Group moves the top of the Tabuik after dawn in Pariaman, West Sumatra.
The Nagari Pasa Group prepares Bungo Salapan to be attached to the body of the Tabuik following the Naik Pangkek procession in Pariaman, West Sumatra.
Tabuik is rooted in the tradition of commemorating Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, a day remembered as the Battle of Karbala, when Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, died. It is the historical and spiritual values that are symbolized in the form of Tabuik.
Over time, this tradition merged with Minangkabau customs. What initially was a religious ritual evolved into a colossal cultural feast that combines history, art, and the identity of the coastal people of Pariaman. Today, Tabuik is not only owned by the local residents but has also become a tourism attraction supported by both regional and central governments.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people crowd Pariaman to witness the series of processions that last for over a dozen days. From this bustling atmosphere arose a still-alive adage: "Pariaman tadanga langang, Batabuik mangkonyo rami"—Pariaman sounds quiet, but it becomes crowded when Tabuik is held.
The Tabuik Pasa Group installs the top of the Tabuik during the Naik Pangkek procession in Pariaman, West Sumatra.
The Tabuik Pasa Group installs the top of the Tabuik during the Naik Pangkek procession in Pariaman, West Sumatra,
That collective spirit is felt from the first procession to the end of the event. People from various backgrounds are involved, working together enthusiastically at each stage. The energy they radiate seems to spread to visitors filling every corner of the city.
The peak of preparations begins in the early hours of the last day of the celebration. When the sky is still shrouded in purple hues before sunrise, the residents of Pasa and Subarang begin to move the body of Tabuik onto transport vehicles. Slowly, the giant masterpiece moves toward the location of the Naik Pangkek procession.
As dawn begins to dispel the darkness, both Tabuik stand in Pariaman Market and Simpang Tabuik. It is there that the Naik Pangkek procession takes place, uniting the parts of Tabuik while also attaching various attributes that complete its form.
The Tabuik Subarang Group holds the burak's head after the Naik Pangkek procession in Pariaman, West Sumatra.
A member of the Tabuik Pasa shows the bird decoration that will be installed on top of the Tabuik during the Naik Pangkek procession in Pariaman, West Sumatra.
Once perfectly assembled, Tabuik transforms into a center of attention. Thousands of pairs of eyes surround it from morning until noon, capturing every detail and awaiting the most awaited moments. Towards evening, both Tabuik are then carried together toward the beach, accompanied by a sea of people walking together in one rhythm. On the edge of the Indian Ocean, the procession reaches its climax when Tabuik is finally cast into the sea, closing the series of celebrations with an atmosphere that is both solemn and festive.
Entering 2026, central government support for Tabuik is growing stronger through three strategic steps. The Ministry of Tourism has set "The Cultural Charm of Hoyak Tabuik Piaman" as part of the national calendar of the "Charisma of Nusantara Events" (KEN) 2026, paving the way for strengthened promotion, provision of supporting facilities, and expansion of promotional reach at national and international levels to increase tourist visits.
In the field of cultural preservation, the Ministry of Culture has begun to oversee the process of registering Tabuik as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. Together with the Cultural Heritage Preservation Center Region III, the Pariaman City Government, and the West Sumatra Provincial Government, the ministry is preparing an academic study and completing various supporting documents as part of the proposal stages.
The Tabuik Pasa Group lays down the Tabuik while being taken to the beach in Pariaman, West Sumatra.
The Tabuik Subarang Group parades the Tabuik towards the beach in Pariaman, West Sumatra.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Creative Economy is strengthening the community's economic side by supporting local artisans and creative entrepreneurs. Various accompanying festivals are held so that the economic flow during the 13-day event is not only felt by the hotel sector but also reaches small traders, MSMEs, and the community around the tourist area.
In Pariaman, Tabuik has surpassed the confines of an annual celebration. It is a space where history, beliefs, mutual assistance, and economic pulse meet. Every Muharram arrives, those towers stand once again, reminding that tradition is not merely a legacy of the past, but a pulse of life that continues to move with the times.
Photo and text Fitra Yogi
Residents and visitors watch two Tabuiks in competition at Gandoriah Beach, Pariaman, West Sumatra.
Residents and visitors scramble to climb the Tabuik as it is cast into the sea at Gandoriah Beach, Pariaman, West Sumatra.
Residents and visitors scramble to collect parts of the Tabuik for souvenirs after it is cast into the sea at Gandoriah Beach, Pariaman, West Sumatra.
Several fishing boats carry tourists who want to see the Tabuik from the sea in the waters of Pariaman, West Sumatra.
Editor Ismar Patrizki
The caption is automatically translated by application. Click here for the Bahasa Indonesia version.
