MAKNA DAN SIMBOLIK TRADISI MINUM AIR SENDANG SETELAH AKAD NIKAH: STUDI DI DUSUN SARADAN, KALURAHAN TERONG, KAPANEWON DLINGO, KABUPATEN BANTULNIM.: 22103050108Alifatul Maula Viandra WidodoauthorThe tradition of drinking spring (sendang) water after the Islamic marriage contract (akad nikah) is part of a wedding procession that has become a distinctive cultural practice among the people of Dusun Saradan, Terong Village, Dlingo District, Bantul Regency. This procession is carried out after the akad nikah, in which the bride and groom are escorted to the spring, passing through Mentotaruna Spring, then drinking water from Surasentika Spring, and ending by immersing their hands into a jar filled with water. The community believes that this tradition symbolizes prayers, seeking blessings from ancestors, and hopes that the couple will quickly adapt to their new environment, build a harmonious household, and soon be blessed with children. This study aims to describe the community’s interpretation of the tradition of drinking spring water (sendang) after the akad nikah and to analyze the symbolic meanings contained in the tradition using Clifford Geertz’s interpretative theory. This research is field research with a descriptive-analytical nature and an empirical approach. The research subjects were members of the Saradan community, including traditional leaders, the head of Dusun Saradan, and married couples who performed the tradition. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and documentation. The data were then analyzed qualitatively using an inductive method. The results of this study show that the symbolic meaning of the procession of drinking spring water after the akad nikah is not interpreted uniformly by the community; rather, there are various interpretations. Based on Clifford Geertz’s interpretative analysis, this tradition is understood through three main principles: first, culture as a text that must be read and interpreted, second, meaning is public in nature and belongs collectively to the community, not to any individual and third, through thick description, deep meanings hidden behind each stage of the tradition are uncovered. The variations in interpretation found in the community prove that this tradition constitutes a living, public system of meaning that continues to develop within the community.201.7 Agama dan Budaya2026-06-03UIN SUNAN KALIJAGA YOGYAKARTA;FAKULTAS SYARIAH DAN HUKUMThesis