National traditions of Indonesia. Habits, mentality and the way of living

More than 300 indigenous ethnic groups, including Javanese, Sundanese, Madura, and the others reside in the territory of Indonesia. The Chinese are the largest group of non-indigenous peoples. There are also many Indians and Arabs in the country. The majority of the population is Muslim. Mostly Hindus live in Bali. They make up about 2 % of the total population. There are also not many Christians in the country. Paganism is still practiced in some remote regions. Culture, traditions, and beliefs are very different in different regions of the country.

The traditional dress varies depending on the location. This can be either a sarong (for both men and women) with a shoulder scarf (for women) or a loincloth or skirt made of leaves for pagan peoples living in remote regions.

Religion is separate from the state in Indonesia. Freedom of religion is guaranteed to all residents. Therefore, Sharia law does not work. However, Adat norms are used in everyday life. These are pre-Islamic traditions and beliefs of the indigenous population. This is an unwritten law that has been transformed into a local legal system under the influence of Islamic and European legal systems. Civil and criminal liabilities were not separated. Capital punishment and corporal punishment were not common. The locals were much more likely to resort to fines and compensation. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Indonesians are non-confrontational people. They are friendly with foreigners and are always ready to help. It is better not to touch on religious and political issues in conversation, so as not to be considered ignorant and boorish. You should remember that the left hand is considered unclean here, as in most Muslim countries. You should not use it to take food or money and give it to shake hands. It is better to avoid pointing fingers and touching the other person's head during the conversation. The head is considered the receptacle of the soul. It is sacred here. Indonesians are not very familiar with the concept of personal space. They can touch the other person and even take his hand.

The mentality, traditions, and customs of the inhabitants of different regions differ significantly due to their ethnic and religious diversity. Most of the population of Bali is Hindu. The caste system is still in use here. This is a simplified model of the Indian caste system. There are 4 castes: farmers (Sudra), merchants (vaishya), warriors (Kshatriya), and Brahmans. The division into castes is milder here than in India. This is due to the fact that the three upper castes are very small. In addition, there is no untouchable caste in Bali. The trace of caste remains in the names of Balinese. It is reflected in the dialects of the language. Members of different castes can marry.

Bali society is deeply patriarchal. A woman does not inherit property. She goes to her husband's house. She gets nothing in a divorce. The children stay with their fathers. The birth of a boy is great happiness. A man should treat a pregnant wife with reverence and respect. There are various protective rituals performed during pregnancy and after birth.

The Minangkabau people are native to West and Central Sumatra. They partially converted to Islam. But they mostly remain pagans. Matriarchy is common in Minangkabau. The marriage proposal comes from the bride's family. The house belongs to a woman. Men only sometimes come there. Many of them stay overnight in a community house that is used as a temple and school.

Despite the fact that most of the inhabitants profess Islam, pagan traditions exist here. Some pagan traditions are quite shocking. For example, relatives are removed from their graves in the rocks every three years in the province of South Sulawesi to dress them in a new outfit. The unique microclimate of rock tombs contributes to the fact that the bodies are mummified and look quite decent. The honor is paid to the dead in this way. Local residents walk with relatives for a while before returning them to their place after changing clothes.

A slightly less strange tradition in Sulawesi is to place the bodies of the dead in small boxes in caves or in trees. Small wooden figures representing the deceased are placed near the burial place.

Another strange Indonesian tradition is practiced in West Java. Debus is either a martial art or a spiritual practice that involves self-harming. Proponents of this practice eat glass, pierce the body with metal rods, and dip their hands in boiling oil. They believe that their unquestioning faith in God will protect them. According to eyewitnesses, this is what happens.

There is a sad tradition in Papua. It consists of cutting off two phalanges of the fingers when a loved one dies. Men dress up as oxen, harness themselves to the plow, and walk through the streets in honor of the harvest festival in East Java.