Toraja, The City of Rituals (One Ritual can Introduce Many Kinds of Rituals) A Cultural Anthropology Study
- March 1, 2021
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRISS, Religion and Cultural Studies
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue II, February 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186
Dirk Sandarupa, M.L. Manda, Burhanuddin Arafah, Fathu Rahman
Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Hasanuddin University
Abstract: This study aims to show and reveal how rich Toraja is in various types of rituals and why Toraja is known as the city of rituals. This research uses qualitative methods and participant observation, where the writer conduct field research and conduct direct observations. This method uses cultural anthropology approach and ideological linguistics. The results of this study indicates that Toraja cultural practices exist today because of their beliefs. The symbols contained in the ritual shows that in general rituals in Toraja include offerings and sacrificing. Social change in Toraja between the past and the present is influenced by modernization, scientific development, the environment and ideology. Toraja rituals have a big impact in tourism.
Keywords: Toraja, Rituals, Cultural Anthropology
I. INTRODUCTION
Toraja is famous for its language, culture and people. What stands out the most is the ritual culture. People often associate the city of Toraja as a symbol of death, such as the rambu solo ritual and the manene ritual. However, if explored deeper, Toraja is rich in various kinds of rituals, because (1) in one ritual it can introduce various kinds of rituals, namely pesung. There are various kinds of pesung such as pesung pare, pesung for newborns, pesung for celebration and so on. In just one ritual, a series of events usually takes place very much, such as the rice ritual, before the rice harvest there are various ceremonies that are held first and after the rice harvest and the following ceremonies. (2) Each region in Toraja has its own beliefs about rituals, although in general the term is the same.
Rituals are cultural heritage from ancestral beliefs. Because this is an cultural anthropology study, this study will reveal cultural practices, rituals, social change and the impact of tourism. This study also looks at the diversity of human culture in the contemporary world.
Through research and theory, as for the problem statements as follows, what is the cultural practice in Toraja? What rituals still exist in Toraja? How does the social change in Torajan language and culture? How is the impact of Toraja tourism on rituals?
