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On the northeastern tip of Indonesia’s Madura island, sand extends into front courtyards and even the interiors of homes.
Residents of three coastal communities – Legung Timur, Legung Barat and Dapenda – known collectively as the Sand Villages, believe the sand brings comfort and healing.
These villages are located in a coastal area in the northeastern part of Sumenep District in the East Java province of Indonesia.
After a day of fishing, residents can be seen spending time outside their homes covered in sand. Local people say that sand brings families and the community closer.
On a rainless afternoon, villagers huddled in their sand-covered front yards. Children used to play nearby.
“At 11 or 12 at night, when it starts getting cold, we go back home,” said Pundia, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
Adnan, 55, said the tradition of collecting sand from the beach and bringing it home has been passed down for generations. “My parents gave birth to me on this sand. Of course, it was cleaned. When I was little, I learned to crawl and stand on this sand. So this is what I know.”
Many others of Adnan’s age were also born on the sand when their mothers could not reach hospitals or clinics in time.
Many homes have rooms filled with sand, which they call sand mattresses. The older generation likes to sleep here.
To keep the sand clean, residents use a round strainer made of layered mesh to filter out stones and wind-blown debris.
There are concerns that this tradition may be lost to development. The beach sand, which used to be pristine, is now heavily polluted with garbage.
Ibnu Hajar, a cultural expert who has studied life in the sandy village, says coastal communities are inseparable from the sea. He cites the Madurese proverb: “The waves are the pillow and the wind is the blanket.”