NUSA TENGGARA TIMURNUSA TENGGARA TIMUR

The Uniques and The Culture The Uniques and The Culture of Nusa Tenggara Timurof Nusa Tenggara Timur

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION NNusa Tenggara Timur is an Indonesian province that is usa Tenggara Timur is an Indonesian province that is

situated in Tenggara Indonesia.situated in Tenggara Indonesia. The capital city is located at Kupang, West Timor.The capital city is located at Kupang, West Timor. There are about 550 islands that make up this province, There are about 550 islands that make up this province,

the main ones being Flores, Sumba , and West Timor.the main ones being Flores, Sumba , and West Timor. Their General Languange is Bahasa Indonesia. Their General Languange is Bahasa Indonesia. The majority of religion are Catholic( 53,9%), follows by The majority of religion are Catholic( 53,9%), follows by

Protestants (33,8%), Islams (8,8%), and others (3,5%).Protestants (33,8%), Islams (8,8%), and others (3,5%). Nusa Tenggara Timur makes up half of the island of Nusa Tenggara Timur makes up half of the island of

Timor. The other half used to be Indonesia’s 27Timor. The other half used to be Indonesia’s 27 th th

province i.e. Timor Timur, which after becoming province i.e. Timor Timur, which after becoming independent, came to be known as Timor Leste, in the independent, came to be known as Timor Leste, in the year 2002.year 2002.

Culture of Nusa Tenggara TimurCulture of Nusa Tenggara Timur SasandoSasando is a musical is a musical

instrument that comes instrument that comes from the island of Rote, from the island of Rote, NTT.NTT.

The main part is the The main part is the cylindrical-shaped tube cylindrical-shaped tube that is usually made out that is usually made out of bamboo.of bamboo.

There are a little wooden There are a little wooden pieces curving from the pieces curving from the top to the bottom, to top to the bottom, to produce different sound produce different sound through the strings.through the strings.

This cylindrical tube is This cylindrical tube is later placed inside a later placed inside a crescent-moon shaped crescent-moon shaped bowl made out of bowl made out of Lontar Lontar leaves.leaves.

PPasolaasola or or Pahola Pahola is a superstitious game that tests is a superstitious game that tests the durability of the competing riders on throwing the durability of the competing riders on throwing rain of bamboo spears from the back of horses on rain of bamboo spears from the back of horses on which they are riding on.which they are riding on.

This game is held in Sumba Barat once a year, either This game is held in Sumba Barat once a year, either on April or March.on April or March.

The contestants are male, tested on their abilities of The contestants are male, tested on their abilities of doing two tasks at once; riding a horse and throwing doing two tasks at once; riding a horse and throwing bamboo spears (hola).bamboo spears (hola).

NyaleNyale oror Bau NyaleBau Nyale, as it is called in Lombok as , as it is called in Lombok as afestival for hunting of worms held for the welcoming afestival for hunting of worms held for the welcoming of Pasola and is held sometime berween the months of of Pasola and is held sometime berween the months of February and March.February and March.

To welcome it, the citizens of NTT carry out a number To welcome it, the citizens of NTT carry out a number of superstitious rituals days before the festival begins.of superstitious rituals days before the festival begins.

The rituals done in their respective houses, the night The rituals done in their respective houses, the night before the gathering of this festival takes place.before the gathering of this festival takes place.

continued….continued….

Examples of some of the rituals Examples of some of the rituals carried out the carried out the symbolic cutting of chicken and the making of symbolic cutting of chicken and the making of ketupat. ketupat. These are done because it has a very These are done because it has a very tight connection with the activity of Pasola; it tight connection with the activity of Pasola; it can be used to see and predict the fate of the can be used to see and predict the fate of the participating contestants of the game.participating contestants of the game.

Usually the priest or the leader of a tribe, Usually the priest or the leader of a tribe, looks the results of the cut-chicken and the looks the results of the cut-chicken and the ketupat. If the roasted chicken still oozes out ketupat. If the roasted chicken still oozes out blood from its intestines and if one of the blood from its intestines and if one of the cooked ketupat is red in colour or has a rather cooked ketupat is red in colour or has a rather brownish hue, it is considered as a bad omen brownish hue, it is considered as a bad omen i.e. members of family who are involved in i.e. members of family who are involved in Pasola, Pasola, will encounter danger such as will encounter danger such as sustaining injuries and maybe even death. sustaining injuries and maybe even death.

Continued …..Continued …..

As the night wears on, all the leaders and As the night wears on, all the leaders and priests on duty, observes the coming of the full priests on duty, observes the coming of the full moon. Usually, this ritual is done by praying on moon. Usually, this ritual is done by praying on the top of a cemetery stone, facing the full the top of a cemetery stone, facing the full moon. By facing the full moon, the leaders and moon. By facing the full moon, the leaders and priests can make sure of the position of the priests can make sure of the position of the moon and also, the condition of the waves of moon and also, the condition of the waves of the sea. From there, then, can the time of the the sea. From there, then, can the time of the Nyale Nyale festival be determined and decided. festival be determined and decided. Once the worms can be seen, all the residents Once the worms can be seen, all the residents who have been waiting since dawn begin their who have been waiting since dawn begin their hunt. hunt.

FinishFinish

THE UNIQUENESS OF NUSA THE UNIQUENESS OF NUSA TENGGARA TIMURTENGGARA TIMUR

There is a very old tradition that is known by the There is a very old tradition that is known by the name name sifon tradition.sifon tradition.

In NTT, circumcision can only be done when In NTT, circumcision can only be done when boys have reached a minimum age of seventeen, boys have reached a minimum age of seventeen, when they have married and started a family.when they have married and started a family.

Circumcision is not considered as something that Circumcision is not considered as something that must be done in order to enter adulthood.must be done in order to enter adulthood.

This tradition requires each male who had been This tradition requires each male who had been circumcised to engage in sexual intercourse circumcised to engage in sexual intercourse within seven days, beginning from the very day within seven days, beginning from the very day that they have been circumcised.that they have been circumcised.

They believe it will hinder the growth of body if They believe it will hinder the growth of body if they done it when they still young.they done it when they still young.

In NTT, circumcision cannot be done just on any day.In NTT, circumcision cannot be done just on any day. It can only be done during particular season such as It can only be done during particular season such as

the rainy season and the summer season.the rainy season and the summer season. The rainy season, when the crops start to grow and The rainy season, when the crops start to grow and

the corn flowers start to blossom, from January till the corn flowers start to blossom, from January till April when Turi trees springs forth.April when Turi trees springs forth.

The summer season , from July till September when The summer season , from July till September when the Dadap trees, Kapuk trees, and Buni trees springs the Dadap trees, Kapuk trees, and Buni trees springs from the ground.from the ground.

The residents believe that it is done during these said The residents believe that it is done during these said season, their health wil be guaranteed and they faces season, their health wil be guaranteed and they faces will radiate life showing rosy cheeks.will radiate life showing rosy cheeks.

Circumcision usually done in the early morning. Circumcision usually done in the early morning. According to their beliefs, it will prevent excessive According to their beliefs, it will prevent excessive bleeding whilst circumcision in the afternoon will bleeding whilst circumcision in the afternoon will provoke bleeding. provoke bleeding.

This Sifon Tradition has an old message : This Sifon Tradition has an old message : Fun kail neno sasaet na’hake, haek nat nopen Fun kail neno sasaet na’hake, haek nat nopen

sasi, muin an enam silautam su om, oin him sasi, muin an enam silautam su om, oin him nenam baba’ ne ka.nenam baba’ ne ka. ( Greetings my children, the ( Greetings my children, the caregivers of land; be cautious when taking a step caregivers of land; be cautious when taking a step forward, be careful of your actions, take heed of the forward, be careful of your actions, take heed of the messages from the ancestors.)messages from the ancestors.)

Besi tap nen mau man sapok, mes nesan tiasan Besi tap nen mau man sapok, mes nesan tiasan nalbalah.nalbalah. (Generations after generations have (Generations after generations have passed by, but the worth of culture forever passed by, but the worth of culture forever endures.)endures.)

Pen et tbu mese polai poho, nae so’poh ko nem Pen et tbu mese polai poho, nae so’poh ko nem ko nem ka au nef.ko nem ka au nef. ( every part of the male body ( every part of the male body does not belong to himself; they belong to the does not belong to himself; they belong to the female whilst every part of the female body belongs female whilst every part of the female body belongs to the male.) Males having sex with a number of to the male.) Males having sex with a number of women is a common trend within this Sifon tradition women is a common trend within this Sifon tradition due to their interperation of this message.due to their interperation of this message.

The tradition of having sexual The tradition of having sexual intercourse post circumcision is intercourse post circumcision is

devided into three parts : devided into three parts :

Sifon or SufunSifon or Sufun, the sexual intercourse must be , the sexual intercourse must be done before the wound from the circumcision has done before the wound from the circumcision has healed. This is because they intend to discard the healed. This is because they intend to discard the heat of body as well to ensure that the social organ is heat of body as well to ensure that the social organ is functioning properly. Sifon is also called ‘Polen functioning properly. Sifon is also called ‘Polen Maputu’ which means discarding heat.Maputu’ which means discarding heat.The second act of the sexual intercourse ( saeb The second act of the sexual intercourse ( saeb aof/soeb na/haumeni/hae’kit,etc.).aof/soeb na/haumeni/hae’kit,etc.). The aim is to The aim is to revive the fit condition of the male body because a lot revive the fit condition of the male body because a lot of blood has been lost during the circumcision.of blood has been lost during the circumcision.The third act of the sexual intercourse The third act of the sexual intercourse (hae’kit/takino,etc.).(hae’kit/takino,etc.). This aims to clean the This aims to clean the wound on the penis after circumcision. At this stage, wound on the penis after circumcision. At this stage, the female used is usually a young one.the female used is usually a young one.

Because the penis is in an impaired condition, Because the penis is in an impaired condition, patients receive a number of medicines such as le’u, patients receive a number of medicines such as le’u, ko’a, malo, skiki or any other medicines that are ko’a, malo, skiki or any other medicines that are considered to have magical powers that can make the considered to have magical powers that can make the patients unaware of the paint when being intimate.patients unaware of the paint when being intimate.

The women victims of the Sifon Tradition must be The women victims of the Sifon Tradition must be known to have sex plenty of times and are used to it known to have sex plenty of times and are used to it or women who have been called on to serve the or women who have been called on to serve the freshly circumcised men.freshly circumcised men.

These woman are considered to have a wide vagina These woman are considered to have a wide vagina that enables easy penetration.that enables easy penetration.

Before circumcision is done, the person who does the Before circumcision is done, the person who does the circumcision (the cutter), holds an event called Nain circumcision (the cutter), holds an event called Nain Fatu (a rock counting) . It represents the number of Fatu (a rock counting) . It represents the number of women they have slept with.women they have slept with.

Together with the growth of technology and the Together with the growth of technology and the changes of time, many sifon patients undergo changes of time, many sifon patients undergo Kawin AdatKawin Adat before officially getting married in before officially getting married in the church, due to the health reasons.the church, due to the health reasons.

Nowadays, for health reason, many young Antoni Nowadays, for health reason, many young Antoni Meto men have decided to be circumcised not in Meto men have decided to be circumcised not in NTT, but in kabupaten and many have also looked NTT, but in kabupaten and many have also looked for work outside the city of NTT.for work outside the city of NTT.

How does this culture differ to those of How does this culture differ to those of other Indonesian province?other Indonesian province?

SIFON TRADITIONSIFON TRADITION, there are no provinces in , there are no provinces in Indonesia that necessitates circumcision to be done Indonesia that necessitates circumcision to be done in the particular way that the citizens of NTT do and in the particular way that the citizens of NTT do and there are no cultures that based the number of girls there are no cultures that based the number of girls that they have to sleep with by the number of stones that they have to sleep with by the number of stones collected.collected.

There are no other provinces here that believe in There are no other provinces here that believe in ‘magical’ medicines that are able to numb pain of the ‘magical’ medicines that are able to numb pain of the wounded penis when doing a sexual intercourse.wounded penis when doing a sexual intercourse.

Beyond doubt, it is safe for all of us to say that NTT is Beyond doubt, it is safe for all of us to say that NTT is very unique. There are no other provinces in very unique. There are no other provinces in Indonesia like it or even remotely similar.Indonesia like it or even remotely similar.