The Ukuwala Mahiate ritual is an integral part of the cultural traditions of the indigenous people of Mamala, Moluccas, Indonesia. It is a fusion of Islamic teachings and local wisdom, comprising various ritual elements such as palm sticks, coconut oil, and more. The ritual is held on the 8th day of Shawwal and integrates the understanding and knowledge of fasting in Ramadan, sunnah fasting in Shawwal, and the Ukuwala Mahiate ritual itself. The ritual involves symbolic communication through non-verbal means, where participants beat each other until they get injured and bleed, and then are healed using coconut oil. The ritual holds deep meaning and significance for the Mamala people, representing their relationship with Allah, community unity, individual identity, and even supernatural power.

1.     The Ukuwala Mahiate ritual is an integral part of the cultural traditions of the indigenous people of Mamala, Moluccas, Indonesia.

2.     It is a fusion of Islamic teachings and local wisdom, comprising various ritual elements.

3.     The ritual is held on the 8th day of Shawwal and integrates the understanding and knowledge of fasting in Ramadan, sunnah fasting in Shawwal, and the Ukuwala Mahiate ritual itself.

4.     The ritual involves symbolic communication through non-verbal means, where participants beat each other until they get injured and bleed, and then are healed using coconut oil.

5.     The ritual holds deep meaning and significance for the Mamala people, representing their relationship with Allah, community unity, individual identity, and even supernatural power.

Traditional society as a research object have constructed the Ukuwala Mahiate symbol as the meaning of offerings, praying, and hopes. The meaning does not happen by itself, but a communication of ritual process in interpreting the ritual process of collecting the palm sticks, treatment oil, reminder and hopes, communication of broomsticks fight and treatment in the communication of broomsticks fight attempt.

The ritual procession of Ukuwala Mahiate symbols is defined as the fulfillment of self-identity as an effort of togetherness through the power of prayer as offerings, praying and hope to Allah SWT in the building, preserving and developing the harmonious relationships interaction among ethnic peoples, protect the culture against other ethnic’s claim.

The meaning of Ukuwala Mahiate ritual symbol for traditional society is considered as something hereditary from previous generations. This symbol has been believed to be related to logical aspects.

The use of symbolic interaction theory has been useful in exploring the ritual symbols of Ukuwala Mahiate, especially the meaning of the treatment rituals of the performers at broomsticks fight, Nyuwelain Matehu as a healing medium that has human relation with Allah.

This research has discussed some aspects of the meaning of ritual Ukuwala Mahiate symbol. Many other aspects still need the research, such as how life experience of ritual performers. It has been found, for example, those who have done the broomsticks fight experienced the injury and bleed throughout the body and the scars of being hit and whipped with palm sticks that will not disappear. So by using a phenomenological perspective, it can explore the communication experience of broomsticks fight attempt. Of course, this topic is beyond our current discussion.