The Pocong

Now let me introduce you to pocongan. Pocongan or simply called pocong probably is the most frightening and scariest ghost in Indonesian culture. Its form, its shape, and its appearance produce a haunting experience for those who has seen them or had an encounter with them.
Pocong usually appear at night time in the graveyard, near a place considered to be “angker” (eerie or haunted place), or in an abandoned house that is believed to be inhabited by ghost or “arwah” (the departed spirit of human). People who has seen a pocong usually will react in different ways, such as run away, scream loudly, or simply fall down unconsciously. But they share one common feeling: scared to death!
Pocong can be seen in their all white “uniform”. From head to toe, a pocong wears white cloth with some kind of veil wrap his/her head. On top of the veil, there’s a tassel tied with a string. Both hands are tied too in the position of “bersedekap” (palms of the hand on top of stomach and heaped each other). There are also two more strings that ties the hip and the leg of a pocong.
In every apparition, a pocong moves by jumping around just like a frog. They don’t make any noise, but the scariest part is their white cloth combined with the disfigured face beneath the front part of their veil. Some witnesses even claim that the eyes of a pocong sometimes can be seen in a frightening red flame like a burning coal.
Pocong actually originated from the traditional manner of the ceremony of dead people according to Islamic rite and ritual. Before a dead body is being buried in the grave, he/she will first be cleaned with pure water and flowers. Then, he/she will be wrapped with white plain cloth called “mori” or “kain kafan”. After this process complete, the dead one can be called a pocong. He/she will be buried with their white cloth intact. So, a moslem won’t need a coffin when they are buried like Christians do.
Pocong is very popular in Indonesia. Most Indonesian regard pocong as the most frightening ghost among all form of ghost and evil spirit known in the Indonesian folklore. Because of the popularity, pocong is often featured in horror movie and “sinetron” (TV movie/series), such as in Setan Kredit (1980), Pocong (2006), Gotcha! (2006), Malam Jumat Kliwon (2007), and the series Hidayah.
For you who will visit Indonesia soon, especially in Java, be prepared to meet the pocongs. It is frightening, but in the other hand, a pocong is somewhat cute too. And since all Islamic country and culture adopt the same tradition to bury the dead ones, it is interesting to note that other Islamic country such as Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, or Turkey doesn’t recognize pocong as a form of ghost or evil spirit.
As far is I can recall, pocong as a ghost only exists in Indonesia. So, if you brave enough to infiltrate the ghost world in “the other side”, please notify me if you see a pocong outside Indonesia. It surely will be astonishing if a pocong is seen in Egypt or Turkey.
I also wonder how the pocong is called in those countries…