Pilgrimage and Maritime Tourism in Ulakan Pariaman

Visiting Pariaman means seeing a lot of tourism sites. Being located by Samudera Hindia makes Pariaman famous of its wondrous beach. There is Pantai Gondoriah which is close to Pariaman City and well-known of its specific food, Nasi Sek. Moving further 15 KM to northern side are locations of Pantai Kata, Lubuk Bonta, Tapian Puti dan various beautiful tourism objects.
Besides those beaches, Pariaman has other worth seeing places; Pulau Piai and other religious tourism objects in Ulakan, Pariaman. Pulau Piai itself has fabulous natural resources with beautiful coral beneath. No wonder many tourists enjoy diving there. Not much further, there is Ulakan located around 10 KM from central Pariaman. The 1 KM-length beach is precious and has white clean sand.
Ulakan is also famous of a grave of Syekh Burhanudin, a very popular Islamic preacher in his times. It is known that he was a great moslem leader who successfully spread Islam around Sumatera Barat. His dedication resulted many followers and increased Islam spreading. He died in When he died, his burial took place in Ulakan.
Up to present, his legendary makes people want to visit his grave. People come there both for pilgrimage which is known as Basafa, and sight-seeing. Basafa procession is conducted annually based on Islamic calender, every Syafar.
Entering Syekh Burhanuddin’s grave yard will be welcome by street vendors selling pilgrimage stuffs, souvenirs and local food. Even the number of vendors are many more on Basafa days to greet visitors and expect benefit from them.
Those who come for Basyafa are usually from Syafei and Syatariah tuitions followers. But, according to community living around Ulakan, those from Naksabandiyah and Sammaniyah tuitions sometimes do the same thing there.
Visitors are normally 50 year-aged people.Their intention is not only for pilgrimage but to get their spiritual close to the Almighty.
In Syafar month, people can even stay in Ulakan for 40 days. They do not need to worry about homestay since there are Surau to stay which are only open in Syafar for visitors.
It is also known that some high rank officers came to Syekh Burhanuddin’s grave. There were Gus Dur, Wiranto, Taufik Kiemas, and many more. Uniquely, some local officers also pay a visit to the grave before a public election.
Syekh Burhanuddin was a moslem who believe in Syafei teachings and Syattariah. He was named Pono when he was a child. He learned about Islam to Syekh Abdul Alif. When Syekh Abdul Alif got old, he suggested him to learn more about Islam in Aceh to Syekh Abdul Ra’uf. He returned home and started teaching what he got in his home town before continue across West Sumatera Barat.
There are some historical stuffs he left and now become objects to see in Ulakan. Some of the sutuffs are clothes, belt, hat and Holly Quran which is assumed 200 year old. Those stuffs are safely kept in a cabinet of small surau. Visitor can only see them during Basyafa. Yuhendra