Tana Toraja Dances

Ritual act of Aluk Todolo in fulfilling religious rules tangible on the cult of Puang Matua, Deata or To Mambali Puang, manifested in traditional art forms like dance, singing, music, art literature, carving and sculpture.

Art that is appreciated always associated with Aluk Rambu Tuka' and Aluk Rambu Solo'. In general, the kinds of art are staged specifically for each activity of traditional rituals, both Rambu Tuka 'and Rambu Solo'. But there is also type of arts that is staged in both kinds of rituals. There is a type of art called 'Basse Bubung, is the art which may be performed at the joy ceremony Aluk Rampe Matallo and grief at the event Aluk Rampe Matampu'.

Almost all kinds of art are staged is a mix of several kinds of art, such as a combination of sound art with dance, dance with music, or songs to the art of music.

Type of art that have been developed in Tana Toraja cultural society such as: Ma'gellu Dance originally developed in the District of Pangalla 'about 45 km to the east of the city of Rantepao and usually staged at a special ceremony called Ma'Bua', relating to the finishing of Toraja traditional house (Tongkonan), or the family have been held a great Rambu Solo' ceremony (Rapasaan Sapu Randanan).

Currently, Ma'gellu' dance also often performed at the wedding ceremony, thanksgiving harvests, and at the event of receptioning honored guest. This dance is performed by young women with an odd number and accompanied by the rhythm of drums that beat by young men who were four people. Clothing and accessories used are specifically for the dancer with jewelry made of gold and silver, like Gold Keris / Sarapang Bulawan, Kandaure, Sa'pi 'Ulu', Tali Tarrung, Fur Bawan, Rara ', Mastura, Manikkata, Oran-Oran, Lola' Pali' Gaapong, Komba Boko' and others.

Dance Boneballa'/ Ondo Samalele', just like Ma'gellu' dance, is also the sort joy dance that is usually staged in the thanksgiving ceremony, gratitude for the success of a large family in completing the reconstruction (rehabilitation or restoration) of their tongkonan (Traditional Houses of toraja). The ceremony is usually called Merok, usually also associated with the completion of a family held a great Rambu Solo ceremoy 'mangrapai' / sapu Randanan. Bone Balla' danced by women and girls who are the families who came from the same tongkonan. This dance is accompanied by a drum beat rhythm known as Oni Oni Tumburaka and Tuntunpitu. Boneballa Dance always accompanied by lyrics of a song called Passengo / poets worship to God. Clothes of dancers are special cothes and also wear the same jewelry with Ma'gellu' dancers but more fitted again with the decorations: Sissin Ake', Tida, tida, Dodo Tannung Pamiring, Bayu Paruki 'and Passapu. Boneballa Dance 'concludes with a mass dance which was followed by dozens of families.

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Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tana Toraja (often referred to as Tanah Toraja) is one area in the north of South Sulawesi (actually, this region has been categorized middle island of Sulawesi). On the island of Sulawesi, Tana Toraja, occupy the area around the base of the foot of the island. Tana Toraja has become so unique because it is the only place in Indonesia (or even the world) who have a culture like this. Tana Toraja with its citizens, called The Toraja have unique traditions in the form of burial that is not planted to the ground but placed in the tomb stone in the rock and celebrated with a gala.
Tana Toraja itself is a piece of territory on foot near the base of Sulawesi, which is surrounded by mountains and hills. Altitude territory about 1,500 to 2,000 meters above sea level. In relation to the contour and the region to be enclosed by nature, access to this place is pretty difficult. Regular access to a public place is with inter-city buses that depart from Makassar, Pare-Pare, or Palopo. The opposite of the natural contours of the mountainous and hilly, Tana Toraja has all the necessary things to make a good farm. The cool air and water availability makes the production of food crops abound here, including rice and various kinds of crops. The result is superior than the Tana Toraja Coffee and Marqisa. Marqisa Toraja and coffee even down to the overseas famous Loch. Could be, one of the coffee you drink at the local and international coffee outlets in shopping malls is this famous Toraja coffee.
In addition to crops, Tana Toraja, known for its customs and traditions precisely that catapulted his name. Toraja People have unique customs in connection with the death of a party or shower. At times like this, the celebration should be done with a massive slaughter including some cows / buffaloes. Tourism has become the main magnet in Toraja. Although had experienced moments of ups and downs, especially when exposed to excess bombing in Bali, Toraja tourism back moves to fix and continue to promote the wealth of some cultures in the eyes of the world. There are two common party held by the Toraja people Rambu Tuka (shower or wedding) and Rambu Solo' (death feast). The Toraja People habit is to organize everything with the lively and large. Therefore, not surprisingly, the funeral ceremony will be held on one, two years or longer, depending on the readiness of funds to the owner of the party. In addition to traditional party, Toraja is also famous for a unique form of customary house boat named Tongkonan and grave stone walls filled with mock statue of the man who died while they were alive. The statue is called Tau-Tau which is made from jackfruit tree wood and is built upon a rocky cliff overlooking the village and allegedly said to protect children and grandchildren and their descendants. This Tau-Tau is surreal with wooden blocks have hands and legs and the face painted plus the position of the hands are bent straight forward. Tau-Tau also have a very real, are large for the man himself, made exactly follow the curve of the body to the lateral face of the deceased. Clothing of the deceased did not forget is applied as well to the Tau-Tau, even down to the accessories ranging from hats to diamond gold.
Previously, Tana Toraja region exclusively covered by hills and mountains in the surrounding natural. Until now too, if you come from Enrekang, you must enter the gates of a large stone on top of it where there is Tongkonan as you enter the gate sign Toraja region. Even From Toraja to Palopo, covering the natural landscape and at the same time maintaining this area. The road winding past cliffs adorn segment Rantepao - Palopo. News landslides become a common thing in this segment. Now, along with the rise of regional autonomy, Toraja did not want to miss. Tana Toraja regency that used to be only one, blooming into two: the Toraja and North Toraja. Each district has its own capital city Makale and Rantepao. Rantepao, the central tourist city in Toraja eventually become the capital of the North after the bloom of the Toraja in the south. Commonly visited tourist attraction in Tana Toraja is neither the city. Both cities center is just a starting point for tourists. A number of tourist-dominated village tour, hanging graves, grave stone wall rocks, trees grave, sarcophagus called Erong, to waterfalls, pools and hot springs are scattered throughout the region. Tourist attraction around Tana Toraja (the term is common to call both the Toraja region) is very much from a very well known until quite small and newly developed. Access is also varied, there is a large roadside, rather go into, go through bad roads, so that can only be accessed by foot only. a week in this place would not be satisfied to see the whole object of the tour. Not to mention, the opportunity to see the day of the market and a very unique ceremony. As if time was running fast in Tana Toraja.
For those of you who will visit Tana Toraja, please note that the climate in Tana Toraja tend cold. Warm clothes and a scarf is compulsory if you visit this place. Do not be surprised if you see a thick fog that covered your views, especially when you are in the margins of Toraja is higher than urban areas. By day, you do not need warm clothes because the air quite friendly, tropical standard. For you the Moslem visitors, please understand that the Toraja are Christian territory. Although the Toraja people still adhered to the local belief Aluk Todolo with Puang Matua as his Lord, but Christianity is the religion that dominates this region. Well, for you the moslem visitors, you should be aware of the food menu at this place because of the Toraja people consume pork (you can see a row of pigs with a wide range of sizes lined up on the day the market in Toraja). If you want to play it safe, find food Pangkajene a lot of standing in this place (even in parts of South Sulawesi), for example soup konro, Cotto, Sop Saudara and fried chicken. If you're not sure, you should always ask before you eat everything.
Now, with this, it looks like you're ready to go to Tana Toraja. You will meet the hospitality of Toraja once you set foot on this territory. Develop a smile and asked to not get lost, get ready to melt would friendliness of Tana Toraja.

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Tongkonan Toraja (Traditional House of Toraja)

Tongkonan Toraja is the most noticeable thing about Toraja. Tana Toraja is one of the little places in Indonesia where traditional structures still being built until present, other than for the benefit of tourists. The most distinctive feature of the toraja houses is their saddle shaped roofs, with each end shooting high into the sky.

Legend ties the shape of the roofs to the origins of the Torajans. Their tradition is that they originated in the mountains of present-day Vietnam. Thousands of years ago, they began a voyage southward. After a couple of years island hopping south, they came to Sulwesi. They made their way by boat up the Sa'dan River as far as present day city of Enrekang, then continued to follow the river on foot to their present valley home. They bought their boats with them, and hung them between trees for shelter. From the shape of the boat supposedly comes the shape of the elaborate Torajan roofs, to remind them of their roots.

The roofs are made of pieces of arm-length sticks of bamboo split in half and stacked in an interlocking style very similar to terra cotta tile roofs the world over. Modern houses may have sheet-metal roofs, but they maintain the same shape, and even use carved wood panels on the under-side to mimic the shape of the traditional bamboo.
Traditional Village
The detailed designs painted on a rice barn.


Tongkonan houses always face north. The interior typically has just three rooms. In the center is the largest room, used as the living area. To the south is the room where the family sleeps, and keeps any dead they haven't buried yet. A small room at the north end is usually reserved for guests. The floors of the north and south rooms is usually slightly higher than the floor of the main room.

The exterior walls are made of wood panels. These are always etched and painted. Most of the patterns are geometric designs, although representations of people, animals and other objects can also be seen. You'll note throughout Tana Toraja that only four colors are used to decorate houses: Black, white, red and yellow. The colors represent, in essence, death or darkness, holy purity, blood and wisdom. The north end of the house will usually have a carved buffalo head on it as well. The pole supporting the north end of the roof may also have a row of buffalo horns affixed to it. This is taken as a sign of wealth.

Facing each tongkonan house will be one or more rice barns, built in the same basic shape but much smaller. Like the houses, the rice barn is raised well off the ground to keep the rice free from damp. The poles supporting the rice barn are kept very smooth to keep away rats and other climbing vermin. As with the houses, the outside walls of the rice barns are engraved and painted. The rice barns can be pre-fabricated off-site and bought to the site by pick-up. There are workshops near the woodworkers village of Ke'te Kesu where you can see rice barns being built. You can even order one to go!

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distinctive food and beverage in tana toraja, Indonesia

Tana Toraja has its own distinctive foods, just like many regions of Indonesia. However, the foods of Toraja are a little more different than most, due mainly to the fact that the vast majority of them are Christian. So, you have such delicacies as a braised pork blackened by a special spice found only in Toraja, washed down with some palm wine. Other delicacies include meat (usually chicken) cooked in bamboo and coffee.
Unfortunately, there are very few restaurants outside of hotels in Tana Toraja. There are stalls and small roadside eateries catering mostly to locals, but these are generally only for the 'hygienically adventurous', as one guidebook author puts it. The one restaurant that seems to serve local foods to foreigners is Celebes, located a little north of Rantepao. ....Read More...

How uniqueThe Burial Traditiion of Tana Toraja

The Toraja Tribe of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, is known for the cheerful way of treating death, and its unique burial grounds carved in sheer rock.

There are plenty of tourist destinations area in Indonesia. One of them, and the most beautiful tourist destinations of Indonesia, the green hills of South Sulawesi are home to the Highland of Toraja, a tribe that still honors the old Austronesian lifestyle. Most people in Tana Toraja are Christians, converted during Dutch colonization, but traces of their old beliefs still remain and are most visible during funeral festivities and burial customs. The Toraja are obsessed with death, but not in a tragic sense; to them, funerals are a lot like going-away parties celebrated by sacrificing dozens of buffaloes and pigs for a feast enjoyed by the entire community.

The main concern of a Toraja tribe member is to make sure he raises enough money so the family can held a big funeral ceremony, when one of the family leaves this world. Their bodies are stored under the family home for years after their death. During this time the remaining relatives refer to that person not as “the deceased” but as “the sick”, and raise money for the actual funeral, which is usually attended by hundreds of guests. Tourists are welcome to attend the festivities, as long as they don’t wear black or red.

While churches dot the Toraja countryside, tribe members are rarely buried in the ground. They are either placed in tombs dug into nearby cliffs, or in wooden coffins hanging on the side of mountains. Lemo, one of the most popular burial sites in the area, looks like a big piece of rock Swiss cheese, with holes carved to fit coffins and balconies for the “tau tau” – life-size wooden effigies representing the deceased. In the old days, effigies only showed the deceased’s gender, but now master carvers try to make them look like the actual person. After the body has been placed in its rock tomb, the dead’s effigy is placed along others, in a carved balcony, so his spirit can watch over his descendants. Unfortunately, so many tau tau effigies have been stolen to be sold to tourists that people have started to keep them in their house.

At Ke’te’ kesu’, the dead are not placed in cliff-dug graves, but in wooden caskets hanging from the side of cliffs. The coffins are beautifully decorated with geometrical shapes, but over time the wood begins to rot and the bleached bones of the deceased often exposed. Some Toraja members are so resourceful that they pack the bones of several family members into a single coffin, which eventually causes the sustaining poles to break under the weight. But, judging by the piles of wood and bones at the bottom of the suspended burial ground, this doesn’t seem to bother anyone.

The smallest of the Toraja burial grounds are the “Baby Trees” where the tribe’s young are placed. If a child dies before he has started teething, its mother wraps his body in cloth, makes a another hole in the Baby Tree and places the dead infant inside. The hole is then sealed and as the tree begins to heal, the child is believed to be absorbed.

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