Pointed teeth, elongated ears and the Symbol of Beauty of the Borneo Tradition

Pointed teeth, elongated ears and the Symbol of Beauty of the Borneo Tradition-Although almost everyone always wants to look beautiful and attractive, the factors to look beautiful and attractive are very relative to each person, community and a region. Some people feel prettier with fair skin, some people feel prettier with darker skin. There is no right or wrong standard for all of these criteria. Everyone is free to determine his own criteria for beauty and how he feels to look more beautiful and attractive.

 

The Mentawai tribe has several cultural traditions related to the body. Among them is the tradition of tattooing the body (titi). The art of body tattooing or what is more easily known as tattoos is a tradition that has been carried out from generation to generation and is carried out by adult men of the Mentawai tribe.

Then there is something interesting about the symbol of beauty in an area in Indonesia. If in West Africa women with black gums are considered beautiful, pointy teeth are a symbol of beauty for the Borneo tradition which is Mentawai tribe. This tribe inhabits four large islands in Sumatra, namely Siberut, North Pagai, South Pagai and Sipora and generally lives in coastal or river villages.

Another tradition that is no less painful is the tradition of brushing teeth so that the teeth become pointed, which is practiced by the women of the Mentawai tribe. The Mentawai tribe likes to practice sharpening their teeth to enhance their appearance.

Mentawai people believe that a woman who is growing up will look more beautiful if she has pointed teeth. This tradition is also carried out with the belief that their souls are filled with happiness and soul peace. This tradition has also been carried out for a long time and has been passed down continuously to the newest generation of the Mentawai Borneo tradition.

To do this, the women of the Mentawai tribe must be able to withstand the pain that is not brief when their teeth are sharpened. The tapering time is also quite long because not only one but 23 teeth are sharpened. In the process, do not use anesthesia. Only use tools made of iron or wood that have been sharpened until they are sharp. To endure the pain, the women of the Mentawai tribe usually bite a green banana that is still raw and hard. The process of grinding one tooth is usually done for 30 minutes without rest. And given a pause in each tooth that has been sharpened so that it can rest.

The tradition of lengthening ear lobe is one of the unique cultures in Borneo tradition. Although not all tribes actually do this, this culture is already attached to the Dayak community in general. But unfortunately from time to time, this tradition is disappearing, and currently there are only a few Dayaks who still have long earlobes, generally the older generation.

One of them is in Bena Baru Village, which is inhabited by around 700 residents.

Kampung Bena Baru is one of the inland villages of the Dayak Kenyah tribe located on the Kelay River, Sambaliung District. Community life in this place still runs side by side with local traditions and culture, complete with traditional ceremonies and special dances. Some of the work tools and household items are handmade. But that does not mean that the inhabitants of this village feel unfamiliar with technological developments such as television, cell phones, and other electronic devices. The village, which just opened in the 1980s, has about 20 grandmothers who have long earlobes.

The long lobe earlobes are not only for women, but also for men. The process of ear lobe lengthening began in infancy. This is generally associated with a person's social rank in Dayak society. For the Kayan Dayak tribe, for example, long lobe ears indicate that the person comes from aristocratic circles. Meanwhile, for women, long ear lobe shows whether she is a noble or a slave because she lost the war or is unable to pay off her debt.

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There are unique Borneo tradition, How about you do you what to do that tradition?

Writer : Britahu.info