West Papua is a beautiful province which is located in Indonesia. This place is maybe not as crowded as the Java province, but still, it has a lot of things to be explored.
It riches of the nature, tradition, and for sure the local culture which is hard to find in the other places. People in the world, especially in Indonesia should know about it. One of them is the local ceremonial event which has the thick philosophy.
Some of them have the unique processions where it may amaze everyone. Besides that, some are also quite controversial. That is why; the west Papua and even the Indonesia’s government has to prohibit it.
The Essential Ceremony: Bakar Batu
Pesta Bakar Batu or stone burning is an important tradition in the land of Papua. It is in the form of cooking rituals together with the people of one village.
This tradition is called Bakar Batu because of its procession that actually burns the stone until the heat smolders. Then it is stacked on top of the food to be cooked.
For the locals, bakar Batu tradition is commonly done for various purposes. Those are the expression of gratitude, welcoming happiness, to gather soldiers to fight, etc.
Bakar Batu party is commonly carried out by various inland or mountain tribes with different terms, such as: Gapiia in Paniai, Kit Oba Isogoa in Wamena, or Barapen in Jayawijawa.
In addition, this West Papua tradition is also carried out in various other regions. The examples are in the Baliem Valley, Nabire, Central Mountains, Bintang Mountains, etc.
Some other Ceremonies in West Papua
Besides the ceremony above, there are still some other local traditions that people can know. Those are varied from the birth moment up to the death event. Each have the different steps, processions, and philosophy. Below are some of those ceremonies.
- Tanam Sasi
It is usually done by the Marin tribe, Merauke regency. This ritual uses a wood which is done as a part of the death ceremonial. Sasi or wood is planted 40 days after someone death and will be taken after 1000 days from that. It also the Admit culture where it’s craft is so popular.
That craft has some meanings such as presenting the ancestors’ spirit, expressing the happy and sad feeling. There are more. That carving also becomes the trust symbol by using the human, animal, plant, and the other goods’ patterns. It is used as the symbol of beauty and the ancestor’s memory as well.
- Pregnancy and Birth Ceremony
When this process is done, the future generation is kept properly. The aim is to let the baby Is born safely with the helps of his mother. When the baby is born, the west Papua people will make a simple event as a thankful expression.
The ceremony is done by cutting the umbilical cord by using a sembilu. The baby is breast fed by his mother for 2 up to 3 years. However, some other areas in Indonesia also have this tradition.
- Wedding Ceremony
This process applies to a boy and also a 17-year-old girl. Marriage is carried out by the male side after an agreement with the female party.
Generally preceded by a courage test ceremony that is to buy the bride with an antique dowry plate. The value of this dowry is based on the value of money johnson boat deaL.
For your information, that is the motor driving boat of the tribe Asmat. This aspect makes the ritual like this is so unique and interesting.
The Uniqueness of the Death Ritual
The people of West Papua also have the unique and interesting death ritual. The ceremony itself is different between the common people and the indigenous tribe. If the tribe leader is someone who died, his dead body will be kept in a form of a mummy.
Then it will be presented in the front of the joglo or traditional house of this tribe. However, if the common people are those who died, the body will be buried. This process is done by using the special songs that use the Asmat language.
The extreme thing is that there is a ceremony of cutting a finger. The one who do that is the family member of the people who died. However, the Asmat people also do a congratulatory ritual which is called emaketsiem.
The cutting finger tradition is also done by the tribes in the Baliem valley. There is a slight difference with the traditions of the Marind tribe in Merauke Regency, in the series of death ceremonies there is a sasi planting ceremony (a type of wood).
The chassis was planted 40 days after the day of death and revoked again after 1,000 days. Meanwhile, in the tradition of the tribes in the Baliem Valley followed by a stone burning ceremony.
However, stone burning ceremonies are not only carried out when there is death. Overall, these west Papua local traditions are always great to see.
