PREVENTING RAIN WITHOUT SUPERSTITIONS
GREGORIUS BHISMA ADINAYA, Intisari Magazine

Eko Budi Sumantri (44) prays at a mosque while checking the sky every now and then. He mouths something as Islamic prayer beads slip through his fingers, one by one.

When dark clouds come, he rises and goes to an open space. While keeping praying, the Malang based Al-Hikam Islamic boarding school graduate looks up at the sky and blows the cloud away. Not long after that, the clouds divide and the sun is back.

Miraculous? This is what Eko does every day as a rain guide, a profession he has done for five years. His task is simple, namely to prevent the rain from falling. But his expertise has brought him to various countries.

To some people, rain guides are associated with superstitions. Rain guides are depicted as psychic with all of his activities and accessories related to black magic things. It is not clear what triggers this bad image. Apparently, Eko confirms this fact. “Once I met a person with the skill (a rain guide), and he burned incense. Others burned a lisong ( a cigarette whose tobacco is mixed with incense) and they threw chilies and underwear to a rooftop. But I never comment. That’s their business, their own skills, “ says Eko, the man who claims to inherit his special skill through his family.

Eko feels obliged to correct such a wrong perception held by some people. According to him, the fact is that many rain guides do their works in accordance with religious rituals. For instance, he does his job by saying a dhikr and a prayer in nearest mosque in order to move the clouds. Even, using this method in line with a religious ritual still leads to a controversy, he says.

On earth, although the timing of the rain can be predicted, but the prediction is not fully accurate. There are some people who would like to see a bright and sunny day, for instance when there is a need to hold an outdoor event or when a construction work needs no rains. Despite no guarantee of success from the rain guides, the demand for this unique service is quite high during a rainy season.