Posts Tagged ‘SUMBA’
“The ratu? He’s sitting over there, trying to figure out if this will be a nice funeral,” says a solemn onlooker.
Lying on the bloodied ground are a dozen disembowelled hens, and like an Etruscan haruspex, the elderly ratu – the great priest – solemnly explains to latecomers: “Yes, the entrails say that the one today will be an excellent funeral.” Read the rest of this entry »
1. SHAMAN VISIT
MENTAWAI ISLANDS (YEAR-ROUND)
Just hours away from the mainland and gateway of Padang, isolated by strong winds and rough seas, sikerei shamans (pictured) in the remote interior of the islands continue to practice old animistic ways. In the Sibulungan religion, fetish poles placed around the open-air, stilt-raised houses keep away evil spirits, while elaborate tattoos and body ornaments help keep soul and body in balance with the world. The shamans are responsible for communicating with spirits, healing and preserving the harmony of the physical and paranormal. Read the rest of this entry »