Pagaralam, Megalithic Culture Centre in South Sumatra

By Arfan Apandi — Kamis, 20 Oktober 2016 — Add Comment — Temple

In pagaralam of South Sumatra has not only had a beautiful natural landscapes, the Earth is also the place of the besemah megalithic culture. Tropical Forest Hills nestled Bukit Barisan and mount Dempo makes this region rich in rocks. Frozen rocks of andesite type this is often used by pre history to create various works are spectacularly, such as statues, stone, grave stone mortar, dolmen and menhir.

According to Van der Hoop, a researcher in the Netherlands, Pagaralam found 22 area is believed to be the site's environment of megalithic-history. From a variety of the area found artifacts, but the majority of the condition of the artifact has been damaged, and some were still buried and not indentified yet.

Megalithic statues from sites found in Pagaralam distinguished into two types. The first type describe one single figure or likeness to exist, namely in the form of humans or animals. Being the second category describes more than a likeness or plural figure, depicting the human figure with humans or humans with animals.

Beghibu stone is one of the sites found in Pagaralam, precisely in the middle of a rice field in the village of Scolds. According to historical records, the rock beghibu site believed to be the site of the former settlement and place of worship for local people in the past. For local people at this time, the village of Fragrant Old Scolds is the area that historically was considered holy and sacred.

Stone megaliths found in the middle of a rice field formerly used as a ceremonial burial figures of the society died sepuh. When there are elders who died, the community put the offerings in front of the statue, dolmen and menhir,. For the community of old, the death of a person is a thing that is considered sacred. Therefore, it is not surprising if at funerals, people are decorated with clothes and jewelry. It is intended as a form of homage to the bodies that will be put in the grave stones.

According to a note that appears on the site, when there is a death of a person who is considered the community's elders, is pictured wearing traditional clothes and jewelry that is called beghibu. Beghibu is the term for jewelry in the form of earrings with diamonds. Because that's the myth of the ancient site scolds perfume by surrounding society called the beghibu stone there. While in other places, it is still within the Earth besemah Pagaralam, precisely in the village of Tanjung Ato site, there are other megaliths by people called the human snake twirled site.

The site in the form of a statue found in the middle of the rice fields of this legend which tells the story of two lovers who falling in love without marriage, to perform acts that violates customs. Such deeds make a snake wrapped around a pair of lovers and wrath until both of them were killed. 

Stone-Burned procession is unique, artistic and antique, are only found in Papua Indonesia

By Arfan Apandi — Kamis, 14 Juli 2016 — Add Comment — MalukuPapua

Bakar Batu or Stones burned is a way of Papua communities  in cooking and processing a certain type of food in the festivities. Tribes in Papua in this process ceremony   using stone. Each tribe or region in Papua has its own appellation for this tradition. For example, people  in Paniai might call it as gapii or mogo gapii.  As with other society Wamena to call this tradition with the term kit oba isago, whereas Biak society call it by the term Barapen. However, the term is most commonly used to Fuel this rock Tradition is “barapen”.    

 Solidarity, camaraderie, and good cooperation.

The ceremony of burning stone consists of severals phases:

Preparation phase

At the step of preparation,  began by looking for wood and stone to be used for cooking. This is usually done by men. So , the stone and wood that had been collected  and  large stones placed at the very bottom, then the upper part is covered with firewood.  Furthermore, compiled more stones with smaller size until the top is covered with wood. Then the next pile of stone and the wood is burned up to the stone gets hot.

Burn the pig

After the stone gets hot, every tribe, handed over the pork and turn by turn every head of the tribe of the boar archery. A procession of archery also has its own meaning. If the pig instantly arrow once to die, then this indicates that the event will be a success. But conversely, if the pigs did not die, it is  suspected something goes wrong will happen on the show.

pigs 

If the purpose of the event of burning stone  is for funerals, the process will be different. In this case, some of the relatives brought a pig as a sign of their condolences. If it does not bring the pig, they will bring the parcel that contains tobacco, cigarettes, coffee, salt, sugar, cooking oil and salted fish. Another thing that is, they  should be kissing the cheeks and cuddle tightly each other.

 Cooking

While men prepare the pigs, the women would prepare the ingredients of food that will be cooked. Firstly, The animal divided  from the bottom of the neck to the back leg. The contents of the stomach that is not eaten will be discarded and another one should be cleaned up first, vegetables and tubers, either.

the hot stones are moved to the big hole

The men also set up a big hole  according to the number of food that will be cooked. Then the hole is lined with reeds and banana leaves. By using special wood clamp called “apando”, the hot stones was moved and put above the foliage. Once it was covered with reeds. So,the pork is put. furthermore, the grilled pork covered with foliage. After that, hot stones are put back on it and covered  by using the thick foliage and herbaceous. 

vegetables are ready to cook

Tubers and vegetableshave been  prepared,  put on it and covered with foliage. And the last, sow it with the ground, for keeping the heat emanating from the rock does not evaporate. Then, wait for about 60 to 90 minutes until pork is cooked and do not forget to give a salt and flavor enhancer.

 Eating together

If everything is ready, it is time for the them to eat the pork dishes. All people will cluster and surrounds the food. In this case, the Chiefs will be guaranteed first, then followed by all people, either,  men or women, as well as children.

all people enjoy the pork, tubers and vegetables

So, one of the unique culture that is owned by papua society, namely party of burning the rock. The Burning stone is eagerly awaited by Papuan. Even some people willingly leave the fields and spend a lot of money to finance the party. Tribes of inland Papua still often carry out this unique tradition. Another  meaning and purpose as party of ritual , bakar batu or burning stone teaches social life such as solidarity, camaraderie, and good cooperation.

Hudoq Dance Always Accompanies Party Planting and Harvesting Paddy

By Arfan Apandi — Rabu, 13 Juli 2016 — Add Comment — KalimantanSulawesi

Almost every ceremonies or parties Dayak community in Kalimantan, such as in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have tradition to celebrate of Harvest and Planting Rice Party which they called by the term language respectively.

Hudoq Dance

If the Dayak in Busang, East Kutai, East Kalimantan called Party Lomplai, elsewhere called a language adapted to the different tribes and traditions that they keep.

The equation is located on padi planting activities Ordinance and harvest the rice that always include a dance Hudoq dance that epitomizes, i.e. a variety of hope against the coming year's harvest.

Paddy/rice is planted by the Dayak are indeed only padi fields are only planted once a year. Only a handful of the Dayak tribe planted rice like other farmers in Java for example. Because the rice just for family consumption.

Harvest Rice

In some traditions of Dayak big ceremonies, they should do when there is an event of the opening of the land/field, planting and harvest season, as well as other festivals such as birth and death.

The Dayak Bahau society special surroundings and Modang, ceremonies relating to activities associated with planting rice is one of the large ceremony should be done by each village.

Rice planting ceremony usually starts in July and August and ritual Hudoq is held in September or October – two months after the cleanup of the land and the growing season.Rice planting ceremony usually lasts for a week, with a different agenda every day. The most important ceremonies accompanying this activity is a dance Hudoq.

 In the  Hudoq dance, all the dancers used material from suit of banana leaf that has been shredded and wearing masks of wood a variety of characters that typified into various gods as the giver of sustenance, birds and pigs (bavui) as vermin, dogs (asoq) as a guard or a farmer, clerk until there are 23 other characters.

Hudoq Mask

Although for example harvest last year was not much produce rice, but Dayak community still carry out a party without reducing the rations of the person or animal that exists surrounding them, fearing it will disturb the spirits of being responsible for delivering results abound at harvest to come.

 The next day the initial planting ceremony performed by Hipui or leaders of villages and was followed by other officials after that commoners are severally the lapse of a day.

There are dietary restrictions during plant this grain of which road to marked fields that are there are planting rice. This sign indicates to the public that there are activities of planting rice.

 In the event this paddy planting people should not talk with one another and should not touch or talk to strangers they don't know.

When there is an event that the ban was violated, then the paddy planting event was stopped for the day. At that time the population is also not allowed to go out at night, hometown. They didn't allowed for hunting, take fruit or catching fish with nets until the rice planting is complete.

The traditions is so incridible,Dayak communities maintain the tradition of planting and harvesting, Hudoq Dance is a tribute to departed ancestors and deceased dear ones who have died. 

Magic House, Rumah Gadang from West Sumatra

By Arfan Apandi — Selasa, 12 Juli 2016 — Add Comment — Custom Houses

The buildings are sometimes also written "Rumah Godang" legalized as Custom House West Sumatra. It is an ethnic Minangkabau traditional houses and spread evenly on the whole territory of West Sumatra, given the region is indeed a Muslim dominated. Another name of this House is the House of Bagonjong or House Baanjung. 

Rumah Gadang/Rumah Godang

Houses Gadang/Rumah Gadang is able to enchant your eyes with beautiful architecture. One of the most consuming concern is part of a similar tapered roof Buffalo Horn. This seems to be the composition of the roof so that the tip can be more than 4 in one home. Once upon a time, the roof is made of Palm befitting to other traditional houses. But advances in technology make House Gadang join preen. Now we can find a House of Gadang with a roof of zinc.

In General, the Houses Gadang is built with a rectangular shape. The body of the House is divided into two main sections namely, face and back. At the front, usually there are many carved ornament with motifs such as flowers, roots, leaves and areas of parallelograms and rectangles. mean while, the back outside of the House using materials cut bamboo. This beautiful House is built by using long poles. the body of the House seems to be elevated to the top but the unique thing is not easy to dye cause of the execellent shaky shocks. Houses gadang features a ladder located at the front of the House. Meanwhile, the room that serves as a kitchen built separately, it is located typically behind the House. 

Inside Rumah Gadang

 Like other custom homes, every part of the House, Gadang also keeps philosophical meaning which is closely related to the culture and religion of the local people. 

Gadang House is as a place to stay with family. But unlike the other House, the separate provisions, Gadang House has features, funtions and meaning, among others:

the number of rooms in houses Gadang depends on the number of women in the family. Each women who have husbands get one room. However, old women without husbands would be given the room its location was near the kitchen. The rooms are generally occupied by small children. Meanwhile, for teenage girls are usually combined in one room and is located on the tip of a separate House.

Spaces in the House, Gadang is always odd, between three and eleven. Custom homes in West Sumatra Province was established on land belonging to the parent in a family house. He also handed down from one generation to another generation. Holders of his heir are women in the family

in addition to the bedrooms, all rooms in the House are public bodies.

At Gadang Home page, generally there are two buildings that are called by the name Rangkiang. The building was home to store rice.

Rangkiang

There are also another buildings on the left wing of any right of the House. The building was known by the name anjuang platforms. Its function is as a place for the bride biting as well as treatment. This is the reason that makes home Gadang also known as the House of the Baanjuang.

Besides the Rangkiang, not far from the houses gadang usually also built a small place surau all family members carry out activities of worship, education, also customarily made the beds of men who have not had a wife.

Carving in a wall Gadang House

West Sumatra custom homes has walls which are also unique than its roof. This carved wall filled with little applying the color such as red, green, also sometimes orange. The overall elements on the building makes anyone who looked at will certainly be amazed, including you.

Not just unique colors, toraja carving also has unique meanings

By Arfan Apandi — Senin, 11 Juli 2016 — 1 Comment — Accessories

Carvings of Tana Toraja found on the buildings or typical objects, is not a usual carving without a meaning but, the carvings as a symbol of the life of Toraja society itself. The way the community socializing and community, the problems  of life is experienced, as well as the ideals enshrined in the community.  

Based on the history of the Toraja, there are 4 kinds of carvings derived from human life. Four kinds of a carving is called Garonto ' Passura ' include Pa ' Barre ' Allo, Pa ' Villages Londong, Pa ' Tedong and Pa ' Sussu '. All the carvings carved in traditional house or Tongkonan with intent in order to make the public bear the meaning of each of these carvings.  

Until now, the Toraja society known as 4 kinds of engraving (passura ') which has specifically rule/meaning  among others:

1. Garonto ' Passura Basic symbols of Toraja society life.
2. Passura ' Todolo carvings are concerned with ceremony and the equipment are considered efficacious to the wearer.
3. Passura ' Malolle '-a symbol of the attitude and social behaviour that are restricted by ethical and moral.
4. Pa ' Barrean-engraving of the pieces with straight and curved .

The colors used in the carving of typical carving – Toraja society must consist of natural colors.

The natural color has its own meaning and significance for the people of Toraja, tailored to the life philosophy of Toraja society itself. The usage of color is not allowed to be modified or replaced. Color your own carving materials called Litak, Mararang Litak (red color), Mabusa Litak (white color), Mariri Litak (yellow), dan Litak Malotong (black colour).

The red and white colours were taken from the color of the blood and bone man, symbolized by the basic human life. This color can be used in any event, related to the life of the vernacular of the day. Yellow is the color of glory and symbolized as a religious thing, usually used on “Rambu Tuka”ceremony ' for the salvation of mankind. While the last color is black as a symbol of death and worn in ceremonial “Rambu Solo”. The meanings of black is the life of every human being are covered by death. According to the beliefs of the Toraja society, at the past times, called “Aluk Todolo”, this world just as a place to spend the night or while away.

Dance Plate, West Sumatra

By Arfan Apandi — 05.12 — Add Comment — Traditional

In addition to a wealth of natural attractions, West Sumatra also has many  art and cultures that will leave you gobsmacked. One of which is a dance named Tari Piring(Dance of plate). The last few years, the Government invested the Dance  Plate to be one of the assets to attract tourists. 

Dance of the dish comes from West Sumatra, precisely in Solok. At first, the dance of the plate is done by women and men to bring a patron to the Gods as a form of gratitude for the harvest which gives very satisfactory results. They dance with a very vivacious while holding plates in the Palm of his hand. There are three types of variations of movement in dance plate/dishes, i.e. tupai bagaluik (squirrels cope), bagalombang (wavy), and aka malilik (common sense wrapped around). 

However, along with the influx of Islam then dance is experiencing a shift so that it is no longer to worship the God but rather to be displayed in the event a special day  or a wedding as well. The dancers any shift from initially mixed, are now only performed by women who dressed up pretty. Perhaps you would not believe without seeing firsthand the dancers move fast, attractive, vigorous and very beautiful with the platters in no way sway much less fall. The dance begins with the dancers who started moving according to Dance choreography by putting a plate in each hand without regardless or shifts at all. 

Mood merrier with instruments used to accompany dance, namely talempong and saluang. The costumes of the dancers are usually brightly colored so as to support the excitement of the event. You'll also hear the rhythm of sound generated from  plates that are held with the ring that was deliberately worn around the finger of a dancer. Then, be prepared to hold your breath for a moment at the middle of the show, because there will be attractions are throwing a plate. Yes, the plates held by the dancers intentionally thrown so high  then stepped in with its offshoots of dance movement continued. This illustrates the feeling of elation over a bountiful harvest. Amazingly, it will not be one any wounds in the legs of the dancers even if they stepped it with bare feet. Generally, the dancers in this traditional dances is odd, such as three, five, or seven dancers.

Dance Plate is very famous throughout the world. This dance has been staged outside of West Sumatra, such as Jakarta, Medan, Pekanbaru, and more. Proudly,  the Dance of the plate were also staged in order to tour the festival culture of the archipelago. Not only within the country, dance of the plate has also penetrated into the international world and ever staged in the festival cultural Archipelago in Malaysia, Singapore, Serbia, as well as some countries in Europe.

If you want to display the Dance on event you hold, you can rent a group dance is so that the dancers present in your city and presents traditional dances of West Sumatra directly for Your invited guests. Of course, will make the entire watch be marvel over  unique choreography as well as agility movements of the dancers with the plates in his hands.

Batik Sasirangan Banjar

By Arfan Apandi — Minggu, 03 Juli 2016 — Add Comment — Batik

Sasirangan is commonly used as a typical cloth on events Banjar people. The word sasirangan comes from the word menyirang which means a baste, as is done in a way to spaced sew then tied with a rope and then dyed, sasirangan still made manually.

According to its history, Sasirangan is a sacred legacy of cloth XII century when Lambung Mangkurat became the governor of the kingdom of Dipa. Sasirangan, originally known as "batatamba" or the healing of the sick that are specially must be booked in advance (pamintaan) so the productions of sasirangan only made by request. Therefore, Urang Banjar(Banjaresse) often, named the sasirangan with (pamintaan) which means demand. In addition to the healing of those who were suffering from the disease, and it is also a sacred cloth, commonly used in indigenous ceremonies.

In the past time the colors/motifs of sasirangan are painted/drew according to the purpose of its creation, i.e. as a complementary therapy treatment in a certain type of illness.

Actually there are certain meaning/purpose in the colors of Sasirangan,as define below;

Yellow sasirangan is a sign that the wearer is in the process of treating jaundice (Banjar language kana wisa)

Red sasirangan is a sign that the wearer is in the process of treating the disease, headaches and sleeplessness (imsonia).

Green sasirangan means that the wearer is in the process of treating diseases (stroke).

Sasirangan of black is a sign that the wearer is in the process of treating fever and itchy skin-gatal.

Purple of sasirangan is a sign that the wearer is in the process of treating diseases of stomach pain (diarrhoea, dysentery, and cholera)

Brown sasirangan is a sign that the wearer is in the process of treating the disease pressure (stress).

In past time, the color of sasirangan is made from naturally ingredients which are made from the seeds, fruit, leaves, bark, or tuber crop that grows wild in the forests or deliberately planted around the residence of cloth makers sasirangan itself.

There are 6 main sasirangan colors that are made from natural material, namely:

Yellow, materials maker is turmeric or temulawak.

Red, the maker is Gambier, noni fruit, lombok merah, or kesumba (rosewood)

Green, the original poster is a leaf ginger.

Black ingredients or pudak author is kabuau or uar.

Purple, is the maker of fruit seed ingredient gandaria (Banjar language: Ramania)

Brown, the ingredients was rambutan fruit peels or uar.

So that color becomes older, younger, and durable (not easily fade) dye on top, then mixed with other spices such as cumin, salt, pepper, nutmeg, cloves, lemon, lime, alum, vinegar, or terusi.

There are many motifs Batik/kain sasirangan. A common motif in mind, namely some of the following motifs:

Iris Pudak

Kambang Raja

Bayam Raja

Kulit Kurikit

Ombak Sinapur Karang

Bintang Bahambur

Sari Gading

Kulit Kayu

Naga Balimbur

Jajumputan

Turun Dayang

Kambang Manggis

Daun

Jaruju

Kangkung Kaombakan

Sisik Tanggiling

Kambang Tanjung