Indonesia ● Timor ● Wanibesak

Tebe Bei Mau Sali, THE HARVEST'S RING

Tebe Bei Mau Sali, as named in the local culture of Wanibesak (Island of Timor in Indonesia), is a very sacred ceremony. This event has been handed down by their ancestors since they were still in Timor Leste, before moving to this area around 200 years ago. It is still strongly tied to culture and traditions.

The Tebe Bei Mau Sali ceremony is held every three years during the time of the corn harvest.

In the past, the ceremony was usually held for seven days and nights. However, along with the development of the Tebe Bei Mau Sali era, it only lasts for three days and three nights now.

During that time, all the people in the Wanibesak village only eat corn, that is entered in the traditional houses.

The Tebe Bei Mau Sali traditional ceremony is not only actually carried out in Wanibesak, but also in several areas around, such as Kletek, Bolan and Kamanasa. This traditional ceremony is more to foster family relations between the Wanibesak people themselves.

During the Tebe Bei Mau Sali ceremony, everyone present, young and elders, join the dance, hands in hands. A circle is formed, in the central place of the village. It can goes until hundreds of people. This circle shall not be break, from the beginning until the ceremony ends, which last 72 hours. Yes, in the night as well. Yes even if it's raining. Only very short breaks are allowed, so new people can join, and others can rest.

Not only dances are perform, songs are also chanted throughout this traditional ceremony. The elders are here to control that everyone is singing the right lyrics and behave wisely too. No borderline attitude is allowed. Some if the ladies also pass by behind the circle, with some towels to dry out the bodies, as the weather and the human proximity makes the temperature quickly going high.

People who attend this traditional ceremony are required to wear traditional cloths, woven by Wanibesak women in order to respect the traditional sacred event. For the Wanibesak community, the way of singing and dancing Tebe Bei Mau Sali has been taught since childhood, so they are already familiar with this traditional ceremony. The elders teach, the younger look, and try.

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The Tebe Bei Mau Sali traditional ceremony is not only attended by the Wanibesak community. People from other regions are also allowed to enliven this traditional event, as well as government officials, or anyone willing to join.It's no wonder that this traditional event is also a place to find a mate for the Wanibesak youths. Everyone gathers. You can meet your close families, the ones living far away, or new friends.

Little bit of history

Wanibesak is a village located in the southern part of Belu Regency, which is located in Lorotolus Village, Wewiku District, Malacca Regency.

The name Wanibesak comes from two syllables, namely Wani and Besak. Wani means bee and Besak means Kabesak tree, so a bee hanging on a Kabesak tree.

Wanibesak counts around more 500 family heads. The village is located in the lowlands, with an area ranging above 150 hectares, and the population is not that much, far away from big Java city density.

The people of Wanibesak leads very simple and peaceful life. They are very close to the nature and family valors. Most of them are farmers, raising livestocks, and a small number of them work in private sectors as civil servants. The economic and agricultural sector that supports the village is still traditional. Some of the dominant agricultural productions in Wanibesak are corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and green beans. The plantations are also coconut trees, cocoa trees, cashew nuts, tobacco, and areca nuts. The livestock is mainly cows, buffalos, free-range chickens, breeding goats, and roam freely around the village.

The majority of the people in Wanibesak are Catholic. This is due to the old history, when the first Portuges discovered those parts of Indonesia few centuries ago, and brought christianity with them. Most of the Nusa Tenggara Timur islands (Flores, Sumba, Timor) are christians.

Special thanks to Mister Lody (alias Kapten Amerika) who provide me with the history of the place, and help me to reach that wonderful celebration.

Reach him on Instagram : @lody_seran26

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