Mangongkal Holi A Tribute to Those Who Have Gone
Death for the Toba Batak people is not the end of the journey. At least that is the basis for the Mangongkal Holi tradition that continues to this day. Believed as a form of respect, the tradition that has existed for a long time is an attempt by a family to usher in the departure of their ancestors to perfection.
TOMB | On the fields in the Toba area, North Sumatra, the tombs stand like occupied houses. Some are big, some are small, the building was made as a form of respect to those who left first. In the tomb building more than one body was stored, most of them had close blood ties.
HOME | In Sigaol Simbolon Village, Panguruan, North Sumatra, June 2019, a large family of the descendants of Ompu Marojahan Marbun gathered. They go home to follow the Batak ritual which is so sacred. The ritual is a form of respect for the ancestors, bringing their bodies to a final perfection.
ELIMINATED | In Mangongkal Holi, the bodies of the ancestors buried in tomb buildings are removed. To dismantle the grave, it takes the approval of the elders in the family. After getting approval from the elders, then the body that has been in the form of bones is brought back to the house to be cleaned, of course with a traditional ritual procession that has taken root.
DIGNITY | Mangongkal Holi is often referred to as an effort to elevate the dignity of a clan. Often, this ritual lasts up to a week, in addition to chanting prayers, offerings of young buffalo and buffalo of choice to the family and invitations are held.
WOMEN'S LINE | In the Mangongkal Holi ritual procession, the family of the female lineage has the right to hold and clean the bones of their ancestors. To carry out the traditional rituals of the Batak people is not easy. In addition to requiring no small amount of money, each descendant must also agree to the implementation of this traditional ritual. That's why this ritual rarely happens.
WASHING | In the Mangongkal Holi procession, the ancestral bones that have been buried in the ground for decades are washed with orange juice. In order to look clean the bones that have been washed and then smeared with turmeric water. After drying, then the bones of their ancestors were put back into the coffin.
FAMILY | After being washed and dried through the drying process, the bones are put back into the crate. In a traditional procession, the coffins are placed in front of the family to be prayed for again.
SOLUTION | As the culmination of the Mangongkal Holi ritual, the entire extended family who participated in the ritual held a party. At the party they danced Tor-tor to the accompaniment of gondang beats. In the culmination of the ritual, the family and invited guests were dissolved in joy, they touched faces, hugged and greeted other elder relatives.
OVERLOAD | To the elders or hula-hula, those who are younger distribute sustenance as a form of devotion and respect. The elders also ask for prayers to be given an abundance of blessings, in the form of many offspring, long life, honor and wealth as hope.
BONDING | The Mangongkal Holi tradition is indeed very expensive. But as a service, every clan will definitely do it even if it takes place at some point in time. As a tradition, Mangongkal Holi is a binder, because in this ritual tradition those who are far away struggle to come.
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