Batak in Old Days

These are pictures of Batak around a century ago. Thanks for my friend, Ferry W. Nainggolan, who shared these pictures via his facebook acc and allowed me to share these in my blog. Enjoy!

About Parmalim

If you see people with cloth covering their head in the above pictures, they were the follower of Malim (also known as Parmalim). Malim is based on the native religion of Batak people and it has been influenced by Hinduism, Islam, and Catholicism.  Today the largest followers are from Toba Batak which reside around Toba Lake.  The largest of the existing Parmalim groups has its centre in Huta Tinggi in the vicinity of Laguboti on the south shore of Lake Toba.

In Indonesia, Malim is not considered as a religion therefore for administrative purpose, the Parmalim have to declare one of 6 religions (Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Konghucu) in their ID. Moreover, people often perceive Parmalim as heretic, probably because of polytheism, magic practice, and animal sacrifice practice (before Christianity and Islam, the Batak made human sacrifice).  Some followers even receive discrimination from workplace despite the key messages of Malim are just the same with other religions: harmony with nature, love thy neighbors, love thy families, karma, and love the Creator of this Universe. Before Gus Dur rose to Presidency, Parmalim held their ceremonies privately but nowadays they openly held their ceremonies and their annual grand ceremony, Pesta Bius, is becoming a tourist attraction. Nevertheless, they are still fighting for their existence, acknowledgement, and more important: religious freedom.

Some useful resources (mostly in Indonesian languange):

• http://www.parmalim.com/index.php
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmalim
• http://maulanusantara.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/parmalim/
• http://wongalus.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/parmalim-yang-tersingkir/
• http://budiawan-hutasoit.blogspot.com/2008/04/penghayat-kepercayaan-terpinggirkan.html
• http://maulanusantara.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/parmalim-%E2%80%9Ckami-bukan-penganut-ajaran-sesat%E2%80%9D/

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1. Rency says:

   January 10, 2010 at 11:24 am

   Nice, never knew about this.
   **sacrifice human?? Seriously????**

   Reply
   • boy says:

     January 10, 2010 at 11:41 am

     yes. As far as I know, it mainly served two purposes:
     1) keeping the ancestors happy – i.e. in Silindung area (now is around Tarutung) before Nommensen stopped this; and
     2) magic work (something like santet), particularly in the making of pangulubalang

     Reply
2. marisi hutabarat says:

   April 30, 2010 at 11:21 am

   life is short, photos has alonglife. thank you.horas.

   Reply
   • Boy says:

     May 2, 2010 at 10:10 am

     horas juga…

     Reply