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Tiwah: A Sacred Funeral Ceremony of the Dayak Ngaju

BorneoGaze - August 14, 2025

Authors: Egy Firmansyah & Yasmin Fatimah A.

Supervisor : Esther Lumban Toruan, S.P.

Deep in the heart of Central Kalimantan, the Dayak Ngaju people uphold one of their most profound traditions: Tiwah, the Hindu Kaharingan funeral ceremony. More than just a rite of passage, Tiwah is a sacred journey—an elaborate ritual believed to guide the soul of the departed to its eternal resting place in the afterlife, known locally as lewu tatau, the "village of the spirits."

A Ceremony of Time and Devotion

Unlike ordinary funerals, Tiwah is performed long after the initial burial. Preparing for the ceremony can take months—even years—due to the immense cost and the complexity of the rituals involved. Once it begins, Tiwah is no brief event; the celebration can last for a week or more, filled with processions, offerings, and age-old customs that demand strict observance.

Sacred Rituals and Traditions

At the heart of Tiwah are rituals both moving and mystical. The bones of the deceased are carefully exhumed, purified, and placed in a beautifully crafted house-like shrine called a pambak or sandung. Animal sacrifices are also made—an offering to honor the spirits and ensure the soul’s safe passage. Each step is guided by tradition, woven with reverence for life, death, and the unseen world.

More Than a Funeral

While Tiwah is deeply spiritual, it is also a vibrant cultural expression. Today, the ceremony is celebrated not only as a religious duty but also as a way of preserving Dayak heritage. It brings communities together in dance, music, and ritual, showcasing the resilience of their beliefs and the beauty of their traditions. For the Dayak Ngaju, Tiwah is more than a farewell. It is a profound statement of respect—both to those who have passed and to the generations who carry these traditions forward. It is also believed to release misfortune from the grieving family, allowing them to continue life with renewed harmony.

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