SUMBA FUNERALS

Have you been in Sumba? I've been there because I'm from Sumba and it's known as one of the beautiful islands in Indonesia. There are a lot of cultures and traditions, and this is one of short explanation about Sumba Funerals that I've taken from Robert Ramone's book: Sumba Forgotten Island.

Since the Marapu followers believe in life after death, funerals are the most important and extravagant ritual of all. Normally the body of deceased is kept for a few days to compete several ceremonies before being buried.

However, funeral ceremonies and burials can be delayed for decades during which the bodies of the deceased are kept in family’s home. This is especially common for people of nobility. This is due to the fact that a lot of money is needed to bury a person from a noble family. The family must save huge amounts of money to buy large numbers of buffalo, cows, pigs and occasionally horses to sacrifice.

In many tribes in Sumba the deceased are placed in the tomb in fetal position. This position symbolizes rebirth into the spirit world. The body is then covered with the finest ikat (hand woven cloth). The soul is then considered ready to enter into Marapu heaven (Praing Marapu). Here it is said they begin the afterlife  with huge feast.