THE PERCEPTION OF THE TRADITIONAL DEATH CEREMONY (RAMBU SOLO) ON TOP OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR TORAJA MIGRANTS IN SANGATTA AND TANGERANG USING AN ETHNOGRAPHIC APPROACH

JURNAL MEDIA AKADEMIK (JMA) Vol.2, No.6 Juni 2024 e-ISSN: 3031-5220; DOI: 10.62281, Hal XX-XX PT. Media Akademik Publisher AHU-084213.AH.01.30.Tahun 2023 THE PERCEPTION OF THE TRADITIONAL DEATH CEREMONY (RAMBU SOLO) ON TOP OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR TORAJA MIGRANTS IN SANGATTA AND TANGERANG USING AN ETHNOGRAPHIC APPROACH Oleh: Ayu Wulandari1 Annisa Liestiani2 Budiyanto Hariandja3 Jerry Heikal4 Universitas Bakrie Alamat: JL. H. R. Rasuna Said No.2 kav c-22, RT.2/RW.5, Karet, Kec. Setiabudi, Kuningan, DKI Jakarta (12940) Korespondensi Penulis: Abstract. The Rambu Solo is a traditional death ceremony carried out by the Toraja people to honor the spirits of the deceased. In reality, the implementation of the Rambu Solo Culture has a phenomenon where the economic is low, the Rambu Solo ceremony cost is very expensive, but it is still being held by Toraja people. The method used in this research is qualitative with an ethnographic approach. This research aims to learn from the Toraja people who have migrated and settled in Sangatta and Tangerang, why the Rambu Solo ceremony is still being held even though the implementation costs are very expensive, how their perception of the Rambu Solo customs, and how they manage their finances for the implementation of this traditional death ceremony by analyzing the behaviour of a group of Toraja people in Sangatta and Tangerang who already have families and are domiciled in the Sangatta and Tangerang areas. Based on the results of the interview, it is concluded that overall, the perception of Toraja migrants towards the Rambu Solo ceremony on top financial management is the Rambu Solo has important Received May 23, 2024; Revised May 27, 2024; June 08, 2024 *Corresponding author: PERAN PEKERJAAN SOSIAL DALAM MENINGKATKAN KESADARAN MASYARAKAT TENTANG PENCEGAHAN DBD DI DESA SEI ROTAN values so this ceremony must be preserved even though the costs incurred are very expensive. These share values are preserving of tradition and cultural heritage; the importance of spirituality, belief and perceptions of death and the afterlife (Aluk To Dolo); solidarity (mutual cooperation, caring, helping and share each other, consolidation of family and social network) (Misa' Kada Dipotuo, Pantan Kada Dipomate); respect for the ancestors; and recognition of social status, power (prestige) and social sanction (tula). Keywords: Rambu Solo, Traditional Death Ceremony, Toraja Migrant, Ethnographic. INTRODUCTION According to 2023 BPS data, Tana Toraja and North Toraja Regencies, located in South Sulawesi, had a population of 257,901 people. BPS noted that in 2015, the majority (72.61%) of the livelihoods of the population in Tana Toraja were in the agricultural sector; 13.08% in the services sector, including: community, social and individual services; and the remaining 14.31% were in the industrial, trade and accommodation industries, transportation, mining and others. In other words, the majority of the population works in the non-formal sector so the income earned may not meet the (minimum) Tana Toraja UMK (Regency minimum wage) standard (2023), which was IDR 3,384,876. Furthermore, BPS 2023 data, the percentage of poor people in Tana Toraja Regency rose 0.3% from the previous year to 12.48% or 30,230 people earning below the UMK, who only had an average monthly income of IDR 399,202. With this income statistic, the Toraja, as an indigenous tribe that inhabits the Tana Toraja Regency, has customs that are still adhered to today, namely in the form of unique traditional celebrations that require high costs, one of which is the celebration of the Rambu Solo (Rambu: Smoke, Solo: Bottom), which means sad ceremony, namely the term Death Ceremony, which, according to Kondongan (2019), can reach hundreds of millions to billions of rupiah. According to Narasani (2022), the Rambu Solo event aims to honor and send the spirits of people who have died back to eternity with their ancestors, called puya (heaven), according to Aluk Todolo's (animist) beliefs. While nowadays, the majority of the religion in the Toraja tribe is Protestant (71%, BPS 2023), according to Arianti (2021), there was acculturation and changes in religious values in the Rambu Solo tradition. Economic capacity was another factor that influenced the shift in values in these 2 JMA - VOLUME 2, NO. 6, JUNI 2024 modern times. The main focus of implementing Rambu Solo has shifted slightly. The higher the family's economic life, the more luxurious the Rambu Solo tradition is held to show its social status (sense of prestige). This ceremony is different for each group of society. If a noble dies, the number of buffalo slaughtered for the event is much greater than for non-nobles (Roosmala, 2009). Added by Tahirs (2020), for noble families, the number of buffalo can range from 24 to 100 buffalos; this is called Sapu Randanan (Mangopang,2018), which consists of various types of buffalo (female buffalo, male buffalo, sambao buffalo, white buffalo head, pudu buffalo). Meanwhile, middle-class residents must slaughter eight buffalos plus 50 pigs, and the ceremony lasts around three days. If the family of the deceased is unable to carry out the Rambu Solo ceremony, the family will keep the body in Tongkonan (a Toraja traditional house) until the family can provide a sacrificial animal to carry out the ceremony; it can last for years. One of the things that makes the Rambu Solo expensive is the price of buffalo (Tedong) commodities in Tana Toraja, which is much higher than in other regions of Indonesia. The higher price of buffalo is mainly due to buffalo having a special meaning for the Toraja people. According to Mangopang (2018), apart from being a ritual, Tedong is one of the benchmarks for the wealth or success of family members holding the Rambu Solo ceremony. In Tana Toraja, buffalo is offered in various types. Here are the names of buffalo and their average prices in 2020 (Tahirs, 2020): No Name of Physical Characteristics of Buffalo Buffalo Type Price Range per Head (Rupiah) 1 Tedong Saleko A buffalo with perfect stripes and the stripes are 500 2 Tedong Bonga symmetrical body. A buffalo thatthroughout has stripesthe onbuffalo's parts of its body, including those with stripes only on a small part of its body. million 70-200 – 1million billion A buffalo has a stocky body and a pitch-black colour 40-120 and is strong in fighting. At the buffalo fighting event at million 3 Tedong Pudu' PERAN PEKERJAAN SOSIAL DALAM MENINGKATKAN KESADARAN MASYARAKAT TENTANG PENCEGAHAN DBD DI DESA SEI ROTAN No Name of Physical Characteristics of Buffalo Buffalo Type Price Range per Head (Rupiah) the death party, the buffalo will appear as the strongest fighter. 4 Tedong Balian A castrated female buffalo has horns 2.5 meters long. 60-100 million 5 6 7 8 9 Tedong Lotong A buffalo with white skin but black shoulders that are 60-90 Boko symmetrical between the left and right. million (...truncated)