Rambu Solo Ceremony of the Toraja tribe

HISTORY OF CULTURE | Rambu Solo Ceremony of the Toraja tribe | Signs Solo 'is a very festive event tradition in Tana Toraja, because it takes days to celebrate. The ceremony is usually held in the afternoon, when the sun began leaning to the west and usually takes 2-3 days. Even up to two weeks for the nobility. Built his own tomb on the top of the cliff at the height of the rock.

Because according to the trust Aluk To Dolo (Tana Toraja people's confidence first, before the advent of Christianity and Islam) among the people of Tana Toraja, the higher the where the remains were laid, then the sooner his soul to nirvana. This ceremony for each class of society of course is different. When the nobleman who died, then the number of buffalo that will be deducted for the purposes of the event far more than for those who are not royal. For the royal family, the number of buffalo may range from 24 to 100 buffaloes. While the middle class citizens are required to kill eight buffaloes coupled with 50 pigs, and about 3 days long ceremony.

But, before the number was insufficient, the body should not be buried in the cliffs or in high places. Hence, not infrequently remains stored for years in Tongkonan (Toraja traditional house) until finally the family of the deceased / deceased can prepare the sacrificial animals. But for adherents of Christianity and Islam now, the corpse can be buried in the ground first, then dug up again after the family is ready to perform this ceremony.

For the people of Tana Toraja, the dead person is not in itself a degree of the dead. For them before the ceremony Signs Solo 'then the person who died was regarded as a sick man. Since the status is still 'sick', then the people who had died last to be admitted and treated like people who are still alive, like with her, providing food, beverages and tobacco or betel. Things that are usually done by a ghost, must continue to run as usual.

The body was moved from the funeral home to the first tongkonan (tongkonan tammuon), namely tongkonan where it originated. There carried out a slaughter of water buffaloes in sacrifice or in the language Torajanya Ma'tinggoro Tedong, which is typical of the Toraja way of slaughtering, cutting buffalo with a machete with a single swipe.

Buffalo to be slaughtered tethered to a stone called the Stone Simbuang. After that, the buffalo had been cut into pieces and the meat distributed to those who are in tongkonan hadir.Jenazah first (tongkonan tammuon) just a day, then the next day the bodies will be moved again to be somewhat tongkonan up again, namely tongkonan barebatu, and here too the procession together with the first tongkonan, the slaughter of the buffalo and the meat will be distributed to people around tongkonan it.

The whole procession ceremony Signs Solo 'is always conducted in the afternoon. That afternoon at around 11:30 Central Indonesia Time (local time), we all arrived at tongkonan barebatu, because today is the day of the transfer of bodies from tongkonan barebatu to rante (the field where the event took place). The body was carried using the Duba-Duba (typical Toraja casket). In front of Duba-Duba-contained Lamba Lamba (length of red cloth, usually located in front of the coffin the corpse, and the procession pengarakan, the cloth was withdrawn by the women in the family).

Pengarakan procession towards the corpse of tongkonan barebatu rante done after the service and lunch. It was only close family ghosts come carrying the casket. The men who raised the coffin, while women are attracted Lamba-lamba.Dalam there pengarakan sequence that must be implemented, in the first place we will see people carrying a huge gong, followed by tompi Saratu (or commonly we are familiar with banners), and just behind the existing row tompi Saratu tedong (buffalo) followed by Lamba Lamba and the last before Duba Duba.

The body will be buried in rante (special field where the procession takes place), there already stood out loud (temporary houses made of bamboo and wood) that has been given a number. Loud itself serves as the residence of the relatives who came later. Because during the event they all did not return to their homes but stay in loud that has been provided by families who are grieving.

Funeral procession finally reached the rante that will be placed in lakkien (disemayamkannya tower where the bodies during the procession takes place). The tower is the tallest building in between the loud-loud in rante. Lakkien itself is made of bamboo with a form of traditional Toraja house. The body was laid on top lakkien before eventually being buried. In rante two buffaloes are ready to be cut down.

Once the bodies arrived at lakkien, the next event is the reception area, the relatives who came from across the country. In the afternoon after the procession reception is completed, followed by entertainment for the family and invited guests who came, by showing ma'pasilaga tedong (buffalo race). What a hectic the audience, because during the ceremony Signs Solo ', fights ruminants is a long-awaited event.

Over the next few days and shoot buffalo reception is on the agenda next event, reception continues till all her guests are in the space provided is loud in rante. Always held the afternoon buffalo fights, this is entertainment favored by the people of Tana Toraja up until the day of burial. Whether it is buried in the cliffs or in patane '(tomb-shaped wooden traditional house).