Debus opened various events in the district and province, featuring both regional and national officials. The largest performances were held in 2014 and 2017, at the 2014 Debus Festival held at the Zero Point of Anyer Lighthouse.
The event was attended by 2,000 Debus performers. Participants reached 600 from Serang City and Regency, 500 from Cilegon City, 400 from Pandeglang Regency, and 500 from Lebak Regency. In 2017, Debus was also performed in Serang City Square with approximately 3,000 participants.
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Function of Traditional Art
Debus Initially, Debus served an important function: as a means to raise the spirits of fighters fighting against the Dutch in the 16th century.
At that time, Debus was not an art form accessible to the general public as it is today. Debus served as a means of galvanizing the Bantenese people to face the Dutch.
Today, debus serves as entertainment for the general public, especially in Banten.
These performances are usually held in open fields so that the debus performers can freely perform their tricks.
Debus performances include stabbing the stomach with a stick, hitting a stone on the back, performing a machete, slicing the hand with a machete, eating hot coals, plates, or glasses, and stabbing the neck with an iron rod.
Over time, this art form has undergone several changes in function (Hadiningrat, 1981).
These changes indicate the existence of life in this art form. The following are the functions of traditional Debus art, including:
- As an offering to the supernatural; here, it has a more spiritual focus.
- As a means of entertainment; it tends to be more of a visual exhibition or emphasizes strange or extraordinary things that are sometimes difficult to accept.
- As a complement to traditional ceremonies; here, correct pronunciation is less important, but rather, the emphasis is on participation and filling a place within the ceremony.
- As a complement to magical ceremonies, meaning this art has a power that can bring about certain effects.