Aruh Buntang Ceremony

Aruh Buntang

That day, the gods were invited to dwell in a coconut tree at the end of the village. A balian (dukun) who called him through spells. Leased water, fire gods, wind gods, and land gods were asked to protect their village from storms, lightning earthquakes, and other natural disasters. The calling of the gods is also a form of request for blessing in holding aruh buntang.

Aruh buntang is a ceremony of death carried out by the Dayak Deah community. The ceremony (ceremony) aims to deliver the spirits of people who have died to the next life. This ceremony is also a symbol of devotion and respect from those who are still alive to deceased ancestors. the calling of the deity above is the initial phase of the implementation of aruh buntang. After the deities are called, the coconut tree which is the place of the semayam is then surrounded by offerings that have been given a spell.
After that, the implementation of the aruh may be carried out.
Upau Subdistrict, Tabalong Regency For Dayak people, the cemetery is a temporary stopover for people who die. After being buried, one day the tomb must be demolished again, and the body of the deceased person is transferred to a chest placed in a special building called Sandung, or pengelowokng in Dayak Deah language. The time period from burial to demolition depends on the readiness of the family left behind, because the costs required are not small.

Therefore, while waiting for the family left to collect funds, the body is buried first as usual. When the funds have been collected, then the tomb is dismantled to move the contents of the tomb which usually has become a skull.

After the cemetery was demolished, the spirits were believed to be flying to the house of the owner. For this reason, an altar was erected in the middle of the courtyard of the house where Aruh took place. Made from a piece of bamboo that was erected, then the bamboo was hung by cloth, palm, and various leaves arranged in such a way. At that altar the spirits are believed to reside.

Throughout the day, families and residents present perform dances around the altar. The dance was intended to entertain the spirits who were watching their relatives who were still alive. Every day, food and drinks are also prepared for the spirits. The amount is in accordance with the number of spirits inhabiting the altar. In this aruh, 87 sets of food and drinks are prepared every day to be placed under the altar.

At the side of the house, two buffaloes were tied up using rattan. Dayak people Deah believe, buffalo offerings can smooth the way for spirits.

The process of sacrificing buffaloes in Aruh Buntang is something that has been waiting for, because the buffaloes were not slaughtered as usual, but were speared.