SOUTH SULAWESI

South Sulawesi province comprises the narrow southwestern peninsula of this orchid-shaped island, which is mainly mountainous. The seafaring Bugis dominant the southern tip, whereas the northern part of South Sulawesi is inhabited by the Toraja whose unique culture rivals that of the Balinese. Famed for their seafaring heritage and Phinisi schooners for centuries, the Bugis possess to the present day one of the last sailing fleets in the world.

Tana Toraja

Toraja's Cave Cemetery

The Toraja are an ethnic group indigenous to a mountainous region of South Sulawesi (Sulawesi Selatan Province), Indonesia. Their population is approximately 650,000, of which 450,000 still live in the regency of Tana Toraja ("Land of Toraja"). Most of the population is Christian or have local animist beliefs known as aluk ("the way"). The Indonesian government has recognized this animist belief as Aluk To Dolo ("Way of the Ancestors"). The word toraja comes from the Bugis language's to riaja, meaning "people of the uplands". The Dutch colonial government named the people Toraja in 1909. Torajans are renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, burial sites carved into rocky cliffs, massive peaked roof traditional houses known as tongkonan, and colorful wood carvings. Toraja funeral rites are important social events, usually attended by hundreds of people and lasting for several days. Before the 20th century, Torajans lived in autonomous villages, where they practised animism and were relatively untouched by the outside world. In the early 1900s, Dutch missionaries first worked to convert. 

Indonesian festivals

Indonesia is often referred to as the sleeping giant of Southeast Asia, and the epithet was indeed appropriate. With more than 18 thousand islands, this archipelago has a remarkable diversity of what you can see or do while on vacation there.

Modernization brings a wide range of development (some say excessive development) to Jakarta, while the Bali tourism back to life after being destroyed when a bomb blast 2002. There are also mountains such as Borobudur Bromo and the mystical to search various types of attractions, as well as 6000 when the Indonesian island of berpenghuni.Tidak surprisingly offers a variety of festivals that are very distinctive feature of their culture, reflecting the ethnic diversity and traditions from various parts of the archipelago. You will find that diversity in these seven uniquely Indonesian festival, ranging from the celebration of art, batik, dance and ceremony. If possible, you can witness one of the festival during his visit to Indonesia!

Toraja Festival
Festival of Culture and Lovely December 2009 in Toraja, South Sulawesi, is expected to push at least 5000 Toraja people overseas to return home together to revive the South Sulawesi Toraja as a tourist icon. Nico Pasaka, Coordinator of the eastern Indonesian Tourism Society, said it further -distant days have urged the public ...