A number of dancing travelers form a circle. Diiring the music of Sordan and Gondang Sabangunan, they dance Tortor in front of a wooden doll resembles a human shape called Sigale Gale.
Sigale Gale Show has rooted hundreds of years in Samosir Island located in the center of Lake Toba, North Sumatra. The story is taken from the story of descending and trusted by local Batak community. Separated in the first time King Rahat has a single son named Manggale. Unfortunately, the son of autumn in the battlefield and his services were not found.
The desire for the loss of the son makes King Rahat sick. And to relieve the king, the elders in the kingdom made a statue similar to Manggale. In order for the statue 'live', the elders call the Manggale spirit that makes the statue moveable. Thanks to the statue, King Rahat recovered from his pain. Since then, Batak people call the statue as Sigale Gale, taken from the name of Manggale.
Travelers from Malaysia wearing a distinctive female headband Batak Toba before performing dancing Tortor with Sigale Gale.
The number of tourists from Malaysia dancing Tortor in front of the statue Sigale Gale.
Sigale Gale’s performance is now certainly not using spirits in the first time. Sigale Gale doll is driven by the pawang using mechanical driving system, such as in both hands and head so that dolls can dance on the wooden box that resembles a jenazah casket.
Sigale Gale’s red thread has been the same: the entertainer. If first Sigale Gale was determinated to eliminate the taste of suffering of family members. Now Sigale Gale turned into a tourist entertainer visiting Samosir Island and Lake Toba. As incorporated in Tomok Tourism Village, adjacent to the Megalitikum site tomb stones of King Sidabutar.
Photo and Text: Andika Wahyu
Wisatawan dancing Tortor in front of the statue Sigale Gale.
Wisatawan dancing Tortor in front of the statue Sigale Gale.
Pawang controls Sigale Gale movement through the thread of the straps connected to the 'persendian' statue Sigale Gale so that it can move and dance.
The number of tourists from Malaysia dancing Tortor in front of the statue of Sigale Gale.
The number of tourists from Malaysia dancing Tortor in front of the statue Sigale Gale.
Dethyl doll Sigale Gale in Tomok Tourism Village located in Samosir Island, North Sumatra.
Pawang controls Sigale Gale movement through the thread of the rope connected to the 'persendian' statue Sigale Gale so that it can move and dance.
The number of tourists from Malaysia dancing Tortor in front of the statue Sigale Gale.
The number of tourists from Malaysia dancing Tortor in front of the statue Sigale Gale.
Wisatawan dancing Tortor in front of the statue Sigale Gale.
