Symbolic meaning analysis of Kesandingan ritual in Probolinggo

Kesandingan, one of the rituals in Probolinggo, East Java, is a cultural phenomenon that mingles with religious elements of society. It is something sacred and mystical that parents do when a toddler (an infant under three years old) experiences heat illness for days, tends to be fussy, cries a lot, and cannot sleep at night. This research aims to explain the process of symbolic communication of kesandingan ritual and to understand the symbolic meaning behind the ritual. It is a descriptive-qualitative study through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The data analysis uses a qualitative-naturalistic technique. The result demonstrates that the symbolic communication process of kesandingan ritual in Mentor, Sumberasih, Probolinggo, comprises seven series: burning incense, wiping incense smoke on the child’s face, giving the child holy water to drink, wiping the child with floral water, preparing food, making a wish on the child’s bed, and distributing food. Meanwhile, the symbolic meaning of kesandingan ritual refers to divine, social and personal dimensions.