In the verdant landscapes of Eastern Flores, lies Lewokluok village—a place imbued with centuries-old customs and enigmatic rituals that have captivated the imagination of outsiders for generations. Here, the constituent elements of sacrifice have been incorporated into the fabric of their religious and cultural beliefs in intricate and profound ways.
Among the ancient traditions practiced here, animal sacrifice takes center stage. As one of the oldest and most universal rituals, it stands as a testament to the village’s rich history. The villagers' ritualistic activity of spilling animal blood remains a practice passed down from antiquity, transcending time into the modern era.
To the villagers, animal sacrifice is not just a mere act; it is a means to propitiate cosmic entities or their supreme being. This sacred relationship holds the key to their spiritual connection with the divine and their ancestral spirits, believed to intercede on behalf of the living.
Within walking distance inside their housing complex, lay a sacred area graced by the presence of Korke Bale—a stage-shaped house constructed from woods, bamboo, and palm leaves. Adjacent to Korke Bale, a hallowed tree stands sentinel to it, exuding an air of mystique and sacredness.
Korke Bale holds great significance for the villagers, serving as a meeting place for various traditional events. It is said to be the first traditional house built by the founders of Lewokluok village, originally inhabited by three tribes. Over time, the house has become the epicenter of their cultural and religious gatherings.
Within the sacred precincts of Korke Bale, the central pillar stands tall, and surrounding it are thirteen equally imposing pillars, each representing the identity of a distinct tribe within Lewokluok village.
The pillars, hewn from sturdy woods, possess a timeless allure, intricately adorned with elaborate carvings that encapsulate the essence of each tribe's cultural heritage. Etched into the wood are symbols and motifs, carefully chosen to symbolize the distinctive customs, beliefs, and history of the tribes they represent.
Every pillar tells a unique story—a story of the tribe’s ancestors, their triumphs, their struggles, and their enduring connection to the sacred. These carvings are a visual tapestry of their people’s journey through time, serving as a living testament to their existence and the wisdom passed down from generation to generation. The intricate patterns served as a visual reminder of the diversity and unity that define Lewokluok.
As nightfall approached, the villagers prepared for a ritual ceremony of great importance—a thanksgiving celebration to mark the passing year and invoke blessings for the year ahead. Today, Lewokluok consists of 13 tribes, with the Lamaholot tribe being the mother tribe of this vibrant community.
The Lamaholot people still hold steadfast to their original belief system, rooted in their reverence for a supreme god known as Lera Wulan Tana Ekan. Additionally, they maintain a deep connection with their ancestors' spirits, believing that they act as intermediaries between the living and the divine. Newborns are named after ancestral tribes, emphasizing this unbroken bond between generations.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the villagers began their preparations for the upcoming sacrifice—an act believed to establish a spiritual bridge with their ancestors and deities.
The rituals are divided into three distinct offerings: thanksgiving, praise, and supplication. Thanksgiving rituals express gratitude for blessings granted, such as bountiful harvests. Praise rituals involve veneration of the sacred, paying homage to the ancestors. Supplication rituals are carried out to seek specific requests, establishing a direct link to the sacred for protection and well-being.
In the sacred confines of Korke Bale, the climax of the ceremony casts its ethereal spell upon the villagers. A hushed anticipation lingers as the chosen representatives from each tribe step forward with profound precision and unwavering reverence.
A symphony of faith and tradition fills the air as the ceremony unfolds. Chants, songs, and clapping hands resonate through the space, weaving an awe-inspiring tapestry of ancient rituals. The animals, meticulously selected from each tribe, become vessels of sacrifice, offering themselves to the divine.
With solemnity etched upon their faces, the chosen representatives from each tribe step forward to perform the sacred act of animal slaughter. One by one, they carefully carry out the ritual, offering the animals as sacrifices. The body parts of the animals hang upside down from the holy tree, a poignant symbol of devotion and reverence, left to linger throughout the night. This sacred offering cannot be touched, and the villagers take great care to guard it from wild animals and unseen spirits.
Their blood drips and mingles with the earth, allowing the venerable Lera Wulan Tana Ekan and the ancestral spirits to savor what has been presented. The villagers, in turn, must wait until the next day to partake in the sacrificial meat.
This profound act of sacrifice serves as a tangible demonstration of the villagers' deep spiritual connection and unwavering dedication to preserving their ancient traditions. It stands as a timeless tribute to the sanctity of their cultural rituals, forging a bridge between the mortal world and the sacred realm of their ancestors.
As the annual sacrifices are offered, and the animals hang from the holy tree, a sense of solemnity fills the air. However, the true essence of the ceremony unfolds when the village elders step forth with a baby pig in hand—a precious offering meant to feed the revered pillars of Korke Bale, which will be executed as soon as it enters the main area.
With utmost reverence, the elders approach each pillar in succession, their demeanor reflecting unwavering devotion. In a carefully choreographed sequence, they smear the sacred wood of the pillars with the life-giving blood, using the body of the headless pig.
As they touch the wood with the blood-stained hands, a tangible connection is forged—a bridge between the living and the divine. The pillars, already brimming with the intricate carvings of tribal identity, now bear a new mark of devotion, a crimson testament to the spiritual bond that unites the villagers.
For the Lewokluok people, the act of feeding the sacred pillars transcends mere ritual; it becomes an act of profound communion with the spiritual realm. They firmly believe that these pillars, standing tall in their resolute grandeur, serve as conduits through which their offerings reach the ancestors from each tribe.
Through this sacred act, the villagers seek the blessings of their forebears, praying for abundant harvests to nurture their crops, protection to safeguard their families, and guidance to illuminate their path through life’s journey.
Dawn breaks, and all the villagers now assemble to partake in the sacred feast known as Gole. The sacrificial meat distributed following traditional rules, ensuring a sense of unity and sharing among the community.
A hushed excitement envelops Lewokluok village. The villagers, prepare for the next sacred act—the offering of cone-shaped rice. This ritual, deeply ingrained in their customs, symbolizes the unity and harmony within their community.
In each household, the women take charge of crafting the cone-shaped rice, pouring their love and dedication into the meticulous process. The rice represents not just sustenance but a tangible expression of their cultural values. It is a symbol of togetherness, where individual grains unite to form a cohesive whole, much like the tribes that make up the village.
As the women gather with bamboo baskets atop their heads, their Keriot Kinge—traditional woven cloth (tenun) produced using traditional looms—accentuates the significance of their roles. The terrace area of Korke Bale becomes their domain, where they congregate to offer the cone-shaped rice.
Inside Korke Bale, the main area remains strictly off-limits to women. This prohibition is rooted in ancient beliefs, reflecting the traditional roles assigned to men and women in Lewokluok village. The separation is not one of inequality but an acknowledgment of the diverse responsibilities each gender holds in the cultural fabric of their community.
As the women place the cone-shaped rice within the sacred space, a profound sense of camaraderie prevails. Each basket represents a family, a tribe, and, ultimately, the entire village. The act of sharing the rice signifies a bond of trust and mutual support, echoing the ethos of unity that has sustained Lewokluok for generations.
As the ceremony progresses, the air is infused with the aroma of cooked offering meat and the villagers gather around the feast; mingles with prayers of thanksgiving. It is a moment of spiritual connection, where the divine and the earthly realm intersect.
In their dialect, "Lewo" means village, and though "Kluok" means 'stale' but for them it is more than just stale food—it represents the shared essence of their cultural heritage. The villagers consume the leftover offering meat not just as a physical sustenance but as a spiritual nourishment, an act of receiving blessings from the gods and the ancestors through the very essence of the offerings.
The shadows lengthen and the day wanes, another ritual unfolds. The air is filled with anticipation as a group of chosen individuals, men from certain tribes, gather around a cluster of candlenuts, betel leaves, and areca nuts.
With a sense of purpose, the men begin the ritual by carefully selecting a candlenut. This seemingly ordinary nut holds immense significance as they believe it possesses the power to bestow good luck upon the village of Lewokluok. The ritual requires utmost precision, and the men crack the candlenut's shell, seeking to reveal a perfectly round nut within. This flawless form is seen as a harbinger of prosperity and blessings for the community.
As the nut is revealed, the men prepare the betel leaves and areca nuts. They expertly chew the combination, releasing the essence of the betel leaf into their mouths. The resulting mixture takes on a reddish hue, earning it the name of "red saliva."
This red saliva is believed to hold sacred properties—a potent blessing from the gods and ancestors. With reverence, the men carefully collect the red saliva, for it is destined to bring blessings to the villagers of Lewokluok. The sacred red liquid symbolizes protection, prosperity, and good fortune for those touched by its divine essence on the forehead.
For some, this ritual is not merely a symbolic act but a sacred duty. They hold a deep belief in the spiritual significance of the red saliva. Some take the red saliva home to bless their families, while others go the extra mile to share it with relatives living in distant lands.
As the red saliva is dispersed, it becomes a sacred thread that connects the villagers, near and far, in a profound bond. The belief in its power transcends physical distance, forging an unbreakable connection between those who share the same ancestral roots.
As the sun reaches its zenith, the villagers bid farewell to the ceremony, leaving the sacred blood offerings to vanish organically. The villagers of Lewokluok leave Korke Bale with hearts full of gratitude. They have honored their ancestors, their gods, and the sacred order that underpins their existence.
In the midst of modernization and changing times, the villagers of Lewokluok have staunchly preserved their ancient traditions. Though the controversy surrounding animal sacrifice persists in some regions, for the Lamaholot people, it remains an integral part of their cultural heritage—a way of connecting with the sacred order and honoring their ancestors.
As the days turn, the scent of animal blood lingers in the air, a constant reminder of the sacred rituals that took place in Korke Bale.
The leaves from the holy tree within Korke Bale start to fall. One by one, the leaves gently descend, creating a carpet of nature’s offerings on the ground. And in a show of respect and adherence to tradition, no one dares to disturb them. The fallen leaves are left untouched, for they are seen as blessed remnants of the sacred ceremonies—it is strictly prohibited to clean the entire sacred area until the next year’s ceremony arrives.
