Traditional corn harvest ceremony
Author(s)
Title
Traditional corn harvest ceremony
Alternative Title
Sau- batar
Publication Type
Language
tet
Isni
Number of Pages
2
Location
Timor-Leste
Keywords
Sau-batar
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
ICH Genre
Description
Sau-batar is a traditional corn harvest ceremony. For the Lakoto people, the harvest ceremony takes place in February each year. In this ceremony, they perform the rituals of offering the harvest food to the souls. If the harvest is not yet ready, they must buy corn from another place for the offerings. Since the ceremony does not depend on the readiness of the corn for harvest, however, it occurs at a specific time as determined by the ancients. The Lakoto people believed that February was the month when the souls of the dead awaken and come to receive the offering of food. The ceremony is performed between the first and third week of the month. After this time, the souls of the dead are gone, and the food offerings will not be received by the souls. When the new corn is ready, another ritual is performed to take the new corn to the sacred house, replacing the old. The corn kept in the sacred house will be used as seeds to replant when the rainy season arrives.
Book/Journal Title
Publisher
Timor-Leste National Comission for UNESCO
Place of Publication
Timor-Leste
Date of Publication
2024
Pages
32-33
Academic Field
Cultural study (Oral tradition)
Community/Ethnic Group
Community of Aileu Municipality
Remexio
Ethnic group of Lacoto Rumbia
Contributor
Active Contribution
Timor-Leste, FY 2024