The Transformation of Traditional Rituals into Innovative Cultural Products: A Perspective of Creative Economy and Local Wisdom

Abstract

The transformation of traditional rituals into innovative cultural products is part of the dynamics of contemporary culture, rooted in local wisdom and connected to the creative economy sector. This study aims to analyze how this transformation practice is carried out by cultural communities in Indonesia, specifically examining preservation mechanisms of sacred values during the adaptation process into commercial products. The research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a case study method in the Seba Baduy, Rambu Solo Toraja, and Hudoq Dayak communities. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 45 informants, participatory observations over 120 hours across three locations, and digital documentation of 250 cultural products. The results show that cultural actors utilize innovations based on local wisdom to transform rituals into products such as fashion, performance, and crafts, while maintaining spiritual and social values. Key findings indicate that 85% of transformed products retain core spiritual elements through narrative strategies, resulting in an average economic impact of a 40% increase in community income. The transformation process is participatory, creative, and strategic, involving local communities as well as support from the government and digital media. Significant challenges include commodification risks (identified in 65% of cases) and meaning simplification, which are addressed through cultural education programs and multi-stakeholder collaboration frameworks. This research confirms that traditional rituals have great potential to be a source of ethical and sustainable cultural innovation in the creative economy ecosystem, providing both theoretical contributions to cultural economy studies and practical implications for community-based cultural preservation policies.