Editorial photo #8569300 Human Interest

Povunja Ritual After Harvest

Residents play raego dance during the Povunja or thanksgiving ritual after the completion of the harvest period in Bora Village, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia on July 21, 2022. Some of the Kaili tribesmen of the Ledo sub-ethnicity who inhabit most of the valleys of Palu City, Sigi Regency, and Donggala Regency in the province still maintain the tradition of postharvest thanksgiving with traditional rituals as a form of gratitude to the Lords of nature. The Povunja ritual is carried out by serving food hung on young coconut leaves. Traditional elders then played the Meuja war dance and Raego dance accompanied by traditional old Uma-language verses that are no longer used in daily conversation. Raego dance is performed in pairs forming a circle. The ritual ends with a meal together in a traditional house with traditional elders and residents. (Photo by Basri Marzuki/NurPhoto)