UNIQUE TRADITION YOU CAN FIND IN INDONESIA

It is well known that Indonesia has a vast variety of traditions derived from various cultural heritages. Some traditions are distinctive in a way that not only delights the eye but also represents the culture, way of thinking, and identity of a particular ethnic group. Here are 5 unusual traditions and ceremonies you can find in Indonesia:

• Debus

Debus is a martial art with Banten roots that focuses on increasing pain tolerance (particular self-inflicted stabbing). The performer, known as Jawara, is subjected to spear or machete piercings as well as sword stabbings. Other amazing skills include chewing glass, consuming fire, and sticking needles into various body areas. They claim that because this is a sacrifice to their god, they will not suffer any injuries or harm as a result of their actions. Even while the person’s level of pain tolerance is incredible, there is nothing supernatural or truly superhuman about it. It simply indicates that they have an extraordinary level of pain tolerance. Debus thus entails rigorous mental training in addition to physical labor.

• Ma’Nene

The North Toraja Regency of South Sulawesi has ma’nene rites in a number of locations every three years. The patane or a typical Toraja coffin used to bury hundreds of people will be opened. Every human body that was kept in storage is preserved so that it could be opened with no damage. The corpses are then scrubbed with a brush before being dressed in fresh material. The body will then be returned to Patane. Family members gathered at the Tongkonan traditional residence to pray as a group to wrap up the Ma’nene ceremonies.

• Ikipalin

Ikipalin is a finger-cutting ceremony that was used by the Dani tribe in Indonesia’s Wamena town during the Jayawijaya Regency. Family members of the deceased would frequently cut off their fingers to demonstrate how painful their loss was. They held the view that Ikipalin would drive away the restless spirit of the deceased and stop disasters brought by the dead. Stone blades or wrapping a thread around the finger to cut off the blood supply could be used to amputate the finger. The open incision could be closed when the finger was taken out to stop the bleeding. It was said that some moms allegedly chewed their newborns’ fingers as part of the ceremony, which was customary among older women.

• Kerik Gigi

On the Mentawai island, having teeth like Dracula’s are considered to be the height of beauty. A lady with sharp teeth is seen to be more attractive and more likely to live a happy and peaceful life than one with typical, square teeth. The village chief will begin grinding and cutting the woman’s teeth with rough-edged steel or wood. Because every tooth must be precisely trimmed to a sharp edge, the ritual may take hours. These women are not given any medications to dull the ritual’s excruciating pain, and neither are the sharpening implements sterilized. You can only imagine the suffering Mentawaian women go through to achieve what is deemed beautiful!

• Pasola

The secluded island of Sumba is home to the bloodiest Thanksgiving ceremony known as Pasola, which is carried out by Sumbanese males. Fifty men will participate in this ritual, split into two groups, and mount a magnificently decorated horse to enact a pretend battle. The barrage of weaponry will include spears, which the opposition must avoid dodging (although a skilled rider may catch it and hurl it back!). Perhaps though the spears’ ends are blunt, they nonetheless pose a high risk of serious injury or even death. The Sumbanese are adamant that suffering and blood are never squandered, despite the dangers. They firmly think that bloodshed will fertilize the soil, bringing about future harvests that will be more numerous.

You can still find all these five unique traditions and rituals when you are visiting Indonesia in the future because of how well-preserved they are in each of the communities. We hope that this article can help you to gain more knowledge about Indonesian tradition.

References:

8 Traditions Only People Living in Indonesia Will Understand. (2017, April 24). Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://theculturetrip.com/asia/indonesia/articles/8-traditions-only-people-living-in-indonesia-will-understand/

Unique Rituals & Traditions in Indonesia That Will Fascinate You. (2020, July 29). Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://whatsnewindonesia.com/unique-rituals-traditions-in-indonesia-that-will-fascinate-you/