Karo ethnic local wisdom in the preservation of the hot springs ecosystem as a carrying capacity for Lau Sidebuk-Debuk nature tourism, Karo Regency
Trisni Andayani (a)*, Murni Eva Rumapea (a), Dedi Andriansyah (a), Daniel Kristoffer Sinuraya (a), Karina Bangun (a), Lia Chairani (a)

a. Department of Anthropological Education, Faculty of Social Science, Universitas Negeri Medan, Indonesia
* trisniandayanifis[at]unimed.ac.id

Abstract

This study is a qualitative research with an ethnographic approach that aims to explore the cultural practices of the Karo ethnicity that affect the preservation of the hot spring ecosystem in Lau Sidebuk-Debuk Karo Regency. The hot springs in this location are one of the carrying capacities of nature tourism in Karo Regency. Through data collection through participatory observation (life in), unstructured ethnographic interviews, and the processing of data analyzed by Spradley^s ethnographic analysis technique, this study then reveals the existence of cultural practices still maintained by the Karo ethnic in that location. One of them is the form of offerings (Pajuh-pajuhen) which are placed at several locations close to the flow of hot springs. This action makes the area believed to have sacred value and is very limited for humans to enter. So, the physical structure of the flow of hot springs is still maintained

Keywords: Local Wisdom, Karo, Hot springs

Topic: Social Science and Humanities