THE PERCEPTION OF THE LOCAL TOURIST ON RAMBU SOLO FUNERAL CEREMONY: A DEATH JOURNEY

Abstract

The Rambu Solo ceremony is one-of-a-kind from several extensive ritual practices. Its uniqueness makes Toraja as a tourist destination and attracts a large number of visitors. This burial ceremony emphasised four components of life, namely love, prestige, religion, and economy, with the goal of respecting the souls as they return to eternity among the ancestors. However, when the customs and taboos between the Toraja people and tourists fail to be celebrated and informed, some unwanted scenes inspire. Thus, this study is written to investigate the perception of the local tourist on Rambu solo funeral ceremony as a death journey. This qualitative research used in-depth interviews as a data collection technique and was participated by three informants, three local tourists from Toraja. Transcriptions of interviews will be analysed using descriptive techniques, mainly using the data-reducing method. The result revealed that the Toraja Tujaan community views the ceremony as an obligatory act of service towards the bereaved family, particularly the parents. Additionally, the Rambu Solo ceremony serves as a means for showcasing pride and indicating the social status of the Toraja people. The Toraja community recognises four different social status: Tana bulawan (the golden tana caste, descended from the king), tana bassi (the iron tana caste, representing security personnel), tana karurung (the caste of free individuals), and tana kuah-kuah (a caste for the people of ramba and pesuru). On the other hand, the perceptions of local tourists towards the Rambu Solo ceremony highlight its uniqueness as a burial ritual.