The Sun began to drop in the village corner of Bawomataluo, South Nias. Visible residents from the old to children sitting in a large stone in front of a four stage house building with U letter pattern. The magnificent building decorated the carvings is the King house (Head of the tribe).
Bawomataluo is a Nias language that means sun hills. A village over the hill that has been around since centuries ago and is still well preserved. The village is the capital city of indigenous villages scattered in Nias.
Bawomataluo village keeps a tradition that is still preserved by stone jump or Fahombo. Formerly, at the time of the fighter between tribes, for the soldiers who participated were required to be able to jump stone piles to enter into the fortress of high enemy.
A child climbs children to Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
The Village of Bawomataluo, South Nias, Sumut.
Nowadays, the stone jump remains preserved no longer used as the terms of being soldiers. These traditions are used for youth for dexterity test and show physical maturity. The Nias community interprets this tradition as a process of deception and the formation of a strong character to live life.
When the Fahombo ritual is carried out, the Nias youth will wear an arrogant custom dress. The stone must be jumped shaped like a pyramid with a flat top surface. The height is more two meters, with a width of about one meter. When jumping is not allowed to touch the stone, because if the skin touches the stone, then they are considered unsuccessful.
The existence of this stone jump is an invaluable heritage of the ancestors and historical evidence of the glory of the ancestors of the Nias people who are observed and preserved. The stone jump is a local wisdom that has now become one of the world’s cultural heritage.
The children sit in the King house in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
Relief in one of the stones in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
Photo and Text : Muhammad Adimaja
Warga is on the King’s home page in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
The young man jumps stone when practicing in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
The young man is preparing to appear in the tradition of the stone jump (fahombo) in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
The young man jumps stone when fahombo tradition faced tourists in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
The people rested the injury to do the tradition of the stone jump (fahombo) in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
The place of stone jumping tradition (fahombo) in Bawomataluo Village, South Nias, Sumut.
Editor : Prasetyo Utomo
