The finger cutting ceremony in Papua is very well known in Indonesia. This is one of the tribal traditions in Indonesia that can only be found and carried out by the Dani tribe in the Baliem Valley, Papua.
Get to Know the Dani Tribe
The Dani itself is a tribe that inhabits the Baliem Valley. The location is at an altitude of about 1,600 meters above sea level. The tribe is located in the stratigraphic zone of the central mountainous cluster of Irian Jaya due to the phenomenon of geological processes.
The inhabitants work as farmers and are known to have had the technology to use stone axes, bone knives, bamboo, and spears when the Dani tribe was discovered. The existence of this tribe is known from various studies conducted around 1900-1940.
It was only in 1983 that a man named Richard Archbold, the leader of an expedition, came into direct contact with the Tribe. The traditions of the tribe are very diverse. One of them is Bakar Batu, a ritual that signifies gratitude and welcoming happiness.
Why is There A Finger Cutting Ceremony In Papua?
This finger cutting ceremony symbolizes the sadness and pain they feel. In this tribe, the fingers symbolize human beings’ size, unity, and strength. Another reason because the relationship between the fingers is like a family.
Using a stone axe, the tools used to cut the fingers are still simple. However, unlike the kitchen knife, which is thin and sharp, the stone ax is blunter and harder. Imagine how painful this finger cutting ceremony is for Dani. Even so, this tradition is done to show loyalty.
Mama or Dani’s middle-aged women only carry out this tradition. It is hoped that with this finger cutting ceremony, the family members left behind can also quickly forget the sadness. After the finger heals, not be sad for too long over his passing.
The scary thing is not just one finger because Mama usually loses almost all of their fingers since nearly all family members leave, from children to husbands. So tt can be said, the more families die, the fewer fingers.
Finger Cut Procession
The procession that is run is quite terrible. First, the Dani’s middle-aged women will cut their fingers by biting until the fingers break. It is sometimes done with an ax or knife. Then, to reduce blood loss, the finger wrap with thread.
They tie the finger with thread until the blood flow stops, the finger becomes numb, and then it is cut off. Then the men cut the earlobe using a sharp bamboo blade. The tradition of cutting the earlobe is called the Nasu Palek tradition.
If you can’t do it yourself, relatives will assist you, and there is no special ceremony. Two knuckles are cut off if the deceased is an older person. If it is relatives, then only one finger segment is cut off. Before being cut off, those whose fingers will be cut off recite a spell.
Respect for Family
The attitude of obedience, respect for their ancestors, the sense of love, and togetherness for the closest people belonging to the tribe made them willing to feel tremendous pain through the procession.
Hope by cutting the finger is also so they can soon forget the sadness. In addition to cutting their fingers, the Dani also take mud baths. It was done, meaning all living things would return to the land.
The Dani tribe perform the finger cutting ceremony themselves. However, this tradition is still sustainable. Of course, if you visit there, you will find many mothers with fingers that are no longer intact.
