Bayan Traditional Village is an old village located on the northern slope of Mount Rinjani. Administratively, the Bayan Traditional Village has an area of ​​about 2,600 hectares and is one of 9 villages in Bayan District, North Lombok Regency. The population in this village reaches 5,373 people, most of whom work as farmers.

Bayan Traditional Village has customary ties to other villages. One village with another village has its own roles and duties according to its social order. The social order and customary law regulate and bind the whole life of the Bayan Traditional Village community. This relationship regulates between humans and the Creator, humans and nature, and relationships between humans. The law creates customary law whose main consideration is to think about the need for water to meet the basic needs of the community for future generations. This law is in accordance with the concept of sustainable development. The concept is applied by the Bayan Traditional Village community by maintaining the upstream to downstream of the river, while still upholding the independence of local values.

This village is known as the original settlement of the Sasak Tribe which until now still adheres to ancestral customs and traditions. This can be seen from their architecture which is still very simple. Although they still uphold tradition, they also don’t close themselves to modern culture. Here are some unique things that you will find when visiting Bayan Village:

1. Bayan Beleq Ancient Mosque

The Bayan Beleq Mosque is a Wetu Telu mosque located on Labuan Lombok road, Bayan village, Bayan sub-district, North Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara or about 80 km from the capital of NTB province, Mataram. Although the shape is simple, the Bayan Beleq Mosque has its own privilege, which is that it has become one of the historic sites in Indonesia. This mosque was founded in the 17th century, which means it is more than 300 years old. Bayan District is indeed one of the gateways for the entry of Islam on the island of Lombok. It was in this sub-district that Islam was first introduced, and the Bayan Beleq Mosque was the first mosque to be built on the island.

The mosque building has a size of 9 x 9 meters. The walls are low and made of woven bamboo, the roof is in the form of an overlap made of bamboo slats, while the foundation of the floor is made of river stones. Meanwhile, the floor of the mosque is made of clay which has been covered with reed mats. In the corners of the mosque room there are four main pillars supporting the mosque, which are made of cylindrical jackfruit wood. Inside the mosque, there is also a wooden drum, which is hung from the roof of the mosque. Inside this mosque, there is a beleq (big tomb) of one of the first propagators of Islam in this area, namely Gaus Abdul Rozak. In addition, behind the right and front left of the mosque there are two small huts. Inside these two huts, there are tombs of religious figures who helped build and maintain this mosque from the start.

2. Parrot Woven Fabric

The woven fabric of the Bayan area has an interesting uniqueness for us to know, one of which is in the manufacturing process. The Bayan community still makes traditional woven fabrics. Why is it still considered traditional? Because the manufacturing process is done manually and only uses human resources assisted by a simple tool made of wood, not using machines. Like woven fabrics in general, woven fabrics from Bayan Village have various unique and distinctive motifs and types. Like “Londong Abang” which is the name of one of the typical woven fabrics of Bayan Village in the form of a piece of cloth that has a stripe or checkered motif with a dominant red color, this cloth is used by men as a bottom cover or as a sarong. After that, there is also the “Kereng Poleng” cloth with colorful motifs, and is usually used by a woman in Bayan Village. Bayan also has woven fabrics used for headbands, namely “Jong” and “Sapuk”, these two fabrics are used as headbands. But what distinguishes it is that Jong is used by women, while Sapuk is used by men.

3. The WatuTelu Tradition

Wetu Telu (Indonesian: Time Three) is a unique practice of some of the Sasak people who inhabit the island of Lombok in practicing Islam. It is suspected that this unique practice occurred because the propagators of Islam in the past, who tried to introduce Islam to the Sasak people at that time gradually, left the island of Lombok before teaching Islam fully. Currently, the adherents of Wetu Telu have been greatly reduced, and are only limited to the older generations in certain areas, as a result of the incessant Islamic preachers in their efforts to straighten out this practice.

A well-known location for the Wetu Telu practice in Lombok is the Bayan area, which is located in North Lombok Regency. At this location, you can still find a mosque used by Wetu Telu followers. There is also a place used by people of various religions to pray. Its name is “Kemaliq” which means taboo, holy and sacred. It is located in Lingsar village, West Lombok Regency which every year holds a traditional ceremony called “Pujawali Ceremony and Topat War” as a symbol of worship. a form of gratitude for the rain that God gave to mankind.

4. Berem Drinks During Traditional Events Brem is the Sasak language for the name of a traditional drink made from fermented white or black sticky rice. History records that Brem has been known to humans for centuries. The Bayan community shows friendliness and intimacy to guests, one of which is by inviting anyone who wants to sit in the berugaq of their house, talking while tasting the dishes provided. In addition to drinks in the form of coffee, tea and snacks, usually the Bayan people will serve brem. Brem is served in a plastic teapot, placed in a zinc tray accompanied by small snacks such as rengginang or jaja tujak (both like crackers from sticky rice). However, if a guest refuses because they think that brem is like liquor like alcohol and is prohibited by religion, then the Bayan people don’t force it and don’t serve it.