Tana Toraja, Indonesia

Tradition Of Tana Toraja

Each region had a tradition of  honoring the dead. If in Bali we are familiar with the term Ngaben, Sarimatua in North Sumatra, then in Tana Toraja ceremony known as rambu solo’. Equations of all three: the ritual of death and burial ceremonies. In Tana Toraja has two of the traditional fig Rambu Solo' and Rambu Tuka. Rambu Solo' is a funeral, while Rambu Tuka, is the ceremonial new of traditional house, or recently renovated.

Rambu Solo' is a very festive event tradition in Tana Toraja, because it takes days to celebrate. The ceremony is usually held during the day, as the sun began leaning to the west and usually takes 2 to 3 days. Even up to two weeks for the nobility. Built his own tomb at the top of the cliff at the height of the rock.

Because according to the trust Aluk To Dolo (Tana Toraja people's confidence first, before the advent of Christianity and Islam) among the people of Tana Toraja, the higher the place of the remains were laid, then the sooner his soul to nirvana.

This ceremony is for each community group must differ. When the nobleman who died, then the number of buffalo that will be deducted for  the purposes of the event is much more than for those who are not royal. For the noble families, the number of buffalo may range from 24 to 100 buffaloes. While the citizens group to puffing required slaughtering eight buffaloes coupled with 50 pigs, and about 3 days long ceremony.

But, before the number was insufficient, the bodies should not be buried in the cliffs or on the high ground. Hence, it rarely remains stored for years in Tongkonan (traditional house) until the deceased families can prepare the sacrificial animals. But for adherents of Christianity and Islam today, the bodies may be buried in the ground first, then dug up again after the family is ready to perform this ceremony.

For the people of Tana Toraja, the dead person is not in itself a degree of the dead. For them before the ceremony Rambu solo’ then the person who died was considered the sick man. Because the status is still hurt, then the dead person had to be admitted and treated like people who are still alive, providing food, beverages and tobacco or betel. Things that are usually done by a ghost, must continue to run as usual.

The body was moved from the funeral home to the first tongkonan (tongkonan tammuon), namely tongkonan where it originated. There carried out a slaughter of water buffaloes in sacrifice or Toraja people said Ma'tinggoro Tedong, which is typical of the Toraja way of slaughtering, cutting buffalo with a machete with a single swipe. Buffalo to be slaughtered tethered on a rock called Simbuang batu. After that, the buffalo had been dismembered and the meat distributed to those present.

The body will be buried in rante (special field where the procession takes place), there already stood out loud (temporary houses made ​​of bamboo and wood) that has been given a number. Loud itself serves as the residence of the relatives who came later. Because during the event they all did not return to their homes but stay in loudly that has been provided by families who are grieving.

Funeral procession finally reached the rante that will be placed in lakkien (tower). The tower was the tallest building in the loud-loud in rante. Lakkien is made of bamboo with a traditional house of Toraja. The body was laid on top lakkien before will be buried. In rante ready two buffaloes that will be cut down.

Once the bodies arrived at lakkien, the next event is the reception, the relatives who came from across the country. In the evening after the procession of the reception is completed, followed by entertainment for the family and invited guests who came with buffalo fights show (ma'pasilaga tedong). What a hectic the audience, because during the ceremony Rambu Solo’, fights ruminants is an event eagerly awaited.

        Over the next few days the reception and buffalo race is the agenda of the next event, reception continues till all the guests are in the space provided is loud in Rante. In the afternoon contest was always held buffalo, this is an entertainment loved by the people of Tana Toraja up until the day of burial. Both were buried in the cliffs or in patane’ (tombs of shaped wood custom home).

Arts And Culture

Ma’ Badong Dance

Tanah Toraja, South Sulawesi has a lot of arts area that has been ingrained from

generation to generation, One of them is Ma’ badong. It is a ritual ceremony grief dance held in the death of Tanah Toraja.

This dance is performed in groups in general by men, whether young or old, but woman is also not prohibited. The dancers (pa' badong) form a circle and tie together your little finger while reciting poems and songs of lament accompanied by hand gestures and footsteps are adapted to the rhythm of the song. Once the ma'badong dressed all in black but in line with the times, the costumes worn are no longer black.

Ma' badong dancer moves in successive steps. The atmosphere that night to be added when the dancers sing sacred poem or a song of sadness (Kadong Badong). Ma' badong chant poems contain human history from birth to death and prayer, so that the spirits of dead spirits received in the country (Puya), or nature in the afterlife.

Songs by the dancer does not use notes. Poetry and song contains such a historical record of magnanimity and greatness of service figures are deceased. Song or poem is called "BATING". Bating this voiced by Indo' Badong, which Indo' Badong's function was to regulate every lyric sung rhythm and form. Alternately dances, connect connect Tongkonan ritual place in the court held. Long of dances are usually hours, all night, sometimes lasting up to three days and three nights a dial-connect in the parking place of mourning ceremonies.

Buffalo fights Culture

 

Tana Toraja is the area's most famous tourist destination in South Sulawesi. Foreign tourists call it a tourist attraction because of its cultural diversity of world culture is very rich.

One of the interesting culture of Tana Toraja is Mapasilaga Tedong customary or buffalo fights. Buffalo pitted here is not arbitrary. Typically, buffalo Caucasians (Tedong Bonga) or the albino buffalo complaint. Buffalo belonging to mud buffalo is a species of buffalo found only in Tana Toraja. In addition, there are also buffalo Salepo who have dark patches on the back and Lontong Boke of black-backed. This last type of buffalo is the most expensive with bandrol reach hundreds  millions of dollars. Buffalo that have been castrated males can also be included in this Mapasilaga Tedong.

Before the buffalo fight began, the committee gave the pork that has been burned, smoke, and water that has been fermented juice (wine), to guide the buffalo and the guests. Buffalo fight then performed in the field, starting with albino buffalo fights. Buffalo fight procession interspersed with buffalo-style cuts Toraja, Ma'tinggoro Tedong, namely with a machete and cut the buffalo with a single slash.

Buffalo is an animal considered sacred by the Toraja tribe. These cultural activities are usually displayed when the Ceremony of Rambu Solo’, funeral ancestors who had died several years earlier.