The Dreadlock Hair Ritual as a Transformation of Ecological Consciousness and Collective Action among the Dieng Community

Eikel Ginting

Authors

Eikel Ginting Independent Researcher, Jl. Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo No.5-25, Kotabaru, Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta 55224, Indonesia

Keywords:

Dreadlock Hair Ritual, Ecological Consciousness, Project Identity, Collective Action, Social Transformation

Abstract

The dreadlock-cutting ritual of Indonesia’s Dieng Plateau exemplifies the tension between tourism commodification and the preservation of spiritual meaning in the midst of an ecological crisis. This study adopts a qualitative approach grounded in library research, engaging critically with academic literature, cultural texts, and theoretical discussions on ritual, identity, and environmental ethics. Drawing on Manuel Castells’ framework of identity construction and Ann Swidler’s concept of culture as a toolkit, the research examines how traditional practices can articulate ecological consciousness amid environmental degradation. Originally an exclusive communal rite, the ritual has been transformed into a public performance through the Dieng Culture Festival, producing cultural hybridity without entirely eroding its spiritual essence. Nevertheless, this transformation exposes a central paradox: rituals that symbolically promote harmony with nature are financially supported by tourism structures that often contribute to ecological harm. This contradiction enables the ritual to function as a form of resistance identity, fostering collective awareness and mobilization in response to environmental threats. Revitalization strategies are identified across four interrelated dimensions: holistic philosophical reinterpretation, ecology-based development, empowerment of community leaders as agents of change, and the strengthening of environmental advocacy. The study demonstrates that local traditions can serve as catalysts for social transformation.

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