Boats in the Religious Life and Cultural Continuity of the Dayak in Central Kalimantan

by Hartatik

Abstract

Boats are yet unmistakably related to the life of the Dayak of Central Kalimantan. The existence of boats are apparent in their daily life as means of their primary transporation, whether in connecting villages or carrying passengers to various destinations such as the cultivation, market place and school. Religiously among the Dayak, boats have significant role regarding the procession of the traditional death ceremony tiwah benteng or tiwah separo. Not to mention the form of coffin, raung, and mortuary repository, sandong, that stores the deceased having a boat-like shape. Obviously, there is a specific conception that essentially inspire the development of boat ornaments i.e. the soul-voyage to its origin beyond the secular world.

(Source: Naditira Widya Number 7, November 2001:99-108; ISSN 1410-0932)