RECONSTRUCTING THE MEANING OF OFFERING IN THE INDEIGENOUS DAYAK SALAKO RELIGARE

To understand the basic nature of the Indigenous Dayak Salako ancestral thinker when they create the offering in their religare for their religious, healing and celebration ceremony, we have to understand the basic knowledge of nature symbol that symbolize their believe towards their spiritual world. To digest the meaning of this symbol, the basis are arrangement of foods and miscellaneous in the round bronze tray with stand that they put during their offering for religious, healing or celebration ceremony.

The Apar contains the offering.

The basic traditional foods are the Bontokng (rice cake wrap in special leaves and cooked inside a bamboo), Lamang (made of glutinous rice wrap in banana leaves and cooked inside a bamboo), Tumpi’[k] (a deep fried pancake made from rice flour), Karakek (a piper betel leaves), Kapur (lime stone paste), Pinang (Betel nut), Timako (Tobacco) and Rokok Apong (cigar made from nipah palm leaves). Beside these basic traditional foods, the animals offering are Manok (chicken) and parts of Enyekng (pork). To complete the offering especially for their religious or healing ceremony, there will be a small saucer fill with Baras Kuning (rice colored yellow with turmeric), and it is called “patek”.

The basic meaning of symbol for the traditional foods and miscellaneous offering are as follows:

1. Bontokng is the gist symbol for the indigenous Dayak Salako offering. This is because rice is from paddy, and it is the main gist of the indigenous Dayak Salako life. Without paddy and rice, there will be a hard life and rice is the staple food of the indigenous Dayak Salako. Bontokng symbolize life.

2. Lemang and Tumpi’[k] symbolize the male and female. Lemang which is cooked in a bamboo symbolize a male and tumpi’[k] which is made from rice flour is soft symbolize a female. It basic meaning is all life that lives in this world start from partnership of male and female.

Bontokng, Lamang and Tumpi'[k]

3. Karakek, Kapur and Pinang is a type of chewing foods for the indigenous Dayak salako women. This three symbolize the character of a female which give birth and produce children. Karakek which is green in color, symbolize nature, Kapur which white in color symbolize a semen (usually this kapur is spread over the karakek before eaten), and Pinang will create the color of red, which symbolize blood.

Karakek (piper betel leaves)

 

Kapur (White Limestone Paste)

  

 Pinang (betel nuts)

4. Timako and Rokok Apong symbolize politeness. Timako is a symbol of a pubic hair, and the Rokok Apong is a symbol of covering the pubic area of the male and female.

 Timako and Apong (Tobacco and Nipah Palm Leaves Cigar)

5. The slaughtered animals offering that is Manok and Enyekng parts is a symbol of thanks giving to the spirit, and it is also as a sign of brotherhood for the persons who helps organizing the ceremony.

6. The patek symbolize the welcoming of the unseen spirit to the ceremony. This patek are usually sprinkle around by the ceremonial priest while reading the phrases of offering.

My acknowledgment and special thanks for the picture to:


1.Tumpik, lemang, bontokng: http://rachaelsoong.wordpress.com/
2.Buah pinang: http://cerihijau.wordpress.com/
3.Rokok apong and tobacoo: http://sarikei-time-capsule.blogspot.com/
4.Lime stone paste: http://www.khiewchanta.com/archives/ingredients/
5. The Apar Contains the offering:  http://www.redgoldarawana.blogspot.com/