POHON PASSILIRAN - BABY GRAVES
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Funerary sites to visit in Siguntu, remarkable trees housing babies who died before the first teeth appeared.
Toraja burial sites are renowned for offering immersion in unique cultural practices. Among these, the Passiliran ritual stands out. You'll find several Pohon Passiliran in the regions of Liang Pia, Lombe, Sarapung, Kambira and Bori.
During this rite, babies who die before the first teeth appear, generally up to seven months, are "buried" in large trees such as the Tarra or the cheese tree (kapok tree). These trees are chosen for their milky sap, reminiscent of mother's milk, symbolizing the return of the child's pure soul to its mother.
Unlike adults and older children, these babies are buried quickly. A rectangular niche is carved into the tree, facing the family home, where the baby is placed in the fetal position with two eggs. The niche is then sealed with palm fibers to protect the child from wild animals. The sap and eggs are supposed to nourish the child, promoting its growth and ascent to heaven. This ritual, which highlights the balance between male and female roles, is imbued with profound symbolism. Fetuses born of miscarriage are buried in bamboo bushes.
Today, although rarer and sometimes transformed into tourist attractions under the name of "Baby Grave", these Passiliran sites remain powerful witnesses to life, motherhood and the profound beliefs of the Toraja people.