Authors : Alex Richsyon Nunumete; Aris Setiawan; I Nyoman Sukerna

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 8 - August

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/2f5eu5ku

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug868

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This study examines Katalima, a traditional prayer practice observed by the community of Piliana village, Tehoru Subdistrict, Central Moluccas Regency, Moluccas Province. In the Katalima tradition, prayers are recited while accompanied by a rhythmic beating of eating plates using bamboo strips, combining verbal (prayer) and sonic (percussive rhythm) elements into a single ritual unity. The primary purpose of Katalima is to seek guidance before undertaking a particular activity, whether individual or communal. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach through ethnographic methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews with local customary leaders, and a literature review on oral traditions and rituals of Moluccas communities. The findings indicate that the plate-beating pattern in Katalima is rhythmically static, with a tempo ranging between 70 and 80 beats per minute (MM), maintained consistently throughout the recitation of the prayer without significant tempo variation. This steady tempo is presumed to function as a marker of solemnity and a means of sustaining the concentration of both the officiant and the congregation present. This study also examines, in an analogicaltheoretical manner, the psychological dimension required of the officiant to maintain rhythmic precision, as well as the relationship between tempo and physiological bodily states drawn from neuroscience and cardiology literature. Katalima represents a form of local wisdom that illustrates how the customary community of Central Moluccas integrates religious, social, and musical elements into a single living cultural practice. This study recommends further documentation and preservation of the Katalima tradition, given the limited regeneration of tradition bearers and the scarcity of scholarly literature specifically addressing it.

Keywords : Katalima; Traditional Prayer; Percussive Rhythm; Dinner Plate; Oral Tradition; Ethnomusicology.

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