Tominaa

What is Tominaa ?
Tominaa is a minister of origin religion in Toraja. Before modern religion enter to Tana Toraja, in this highland exist Aluk To Dolo religion. In verbal way Aluk To Dolo means The First Religion ( My Private Opinion).
For long time ago Aluk To Dolo has a religion in Toraja until now and Tominaa is minister of Aluk To Dolo religion. Just not known of Aluk To Dolo followers but also known by all of community.
Why ?
Caused by Tominaa is a predicate that really trusted have deep knowledge about Toraja language.
When I was still a little boy, I thought that Tominaa was a literary man, but actually Tominaa is minister, priest of Aluk To Dolo religion.
Tominaa role important in continue Torajan Language caused by until now no one university opening studiy program of the language.

Rambu Solo'

My office friends asked me about burial party in Toraja. Why I said as party ? I mean before burial in Toraja organized a party that Torajanesse said Rambu Solo'.

Rambu Solo' is a tradition in Toraja that organized with slaughtering pig and buffalo until hundreds. Party organized from two days until seven days. Where the big family will provide food and every one can come to the party.
Rambu Solo' managed with really professional based on rule of culture, organized in a wide land, consists of temporary building that said lantang, where the material of lantang majority consists of bamboo. The bamboo tree very much can growth in Toarajaland.
The number of lantang depend on the number of child of the ceased with common lantang that said lantang karampoan, as the first place where guest.
After that, the guess will be move one of the lantang suitable with they destination. They come to pay their respects to family of decease while bring pig and buffalo for the party.

Tongkonan

What is Tongkonan ? Tongkonan is a house but just not about house. Tongkonan just not about home, but Tongkonan means a big family in Torajanesse. Tongkonan built by member of a family, consists of Father, Mother, Child, grand child and ....
Tongkonan also as house culture of Toraja. All the material of Tongkonan building consists of wood. Roof from bamboo and others part of wood that also got from Toraja nature.
Build a Tongkonan must to follow the rule of the culture in Toraja. Tongkonan must be lengthwise direction from north to south. I don't know what the reason but with the position like that make the house get ray from the sunrise and sunset.

Dialek Toraja ? Why not ?

Pandangan negatif tentang dialek Toraja sungguh sebuah kekeliruan. Sering dijadikan bahan ketawaan, sering dianggap kolot dan bahkan sering pula dianggap kampungan dan terbelakang.
Dialek sebuah daerah sendiri muncul dari keberadaan sebuah bahasa yang dipakai dalam sebuah wilayah tertentu.
Pada saat seorang memakai sebuah bahasa yang lain dari bahasa yang sering dipakainya maka unsur bahasa yang dia sudah sering gunakan akan terbawa walapun dia sudah secara penuh menggunakan bahasa yang baru tersebut.
Jika seseorang sering menggunakan bahasa Toraja maka pada saat dia masuk ke sebuah lingkungan yang memaksanya untuk berbahasa Indonesia misalnya, maka unsur bahasa Toraja itu akan terbawa dalam setiap kata yang diucapkannya. Hal yang sama juga akan terjadi pada setiap pemakai bahasa daerah lainnya dan akan perlahan-lahan menghilang untuk jangka waktu tertentu bahkan mungkin tidak bisa menghilang lagi.
Sebuah hal yang wajar dan sekaligus sebagai bukti bahwa pengguna bahasa Toraja itu masih eksis. Dialek ibarat asap dan bahasa adalah apinya. Kalau ada asap berarti ada apinya.
Kelestarian akan bahasa dan sastra Toraja pun cukup mengkuatirkan karena semakin berkurangnya pemakai bahasa tersebut oleh generasi-generasi baru dan semakin meningkatnya interaksi antara masyarakat Toraja dengan daerah lainnya.
Memang sebuah hal yang tidak bisa dihindari sebagaimana juga terjadi di tempat-tempat lain. Dan kita juga tidak bisa memaksakan sebuah kehendak untuk menggunakan bahasa Toraja.
Satu hal yang harus kita sadari bahwa bahasa adalah bagian yang sangat penting dari sebuah budaya. Sebuah unsur yang sangat penting. Sedangkan budaya adalah sesuatu yang wajib dilestarikan.
Sepengetahuan saya belum ada satu pun lembaga pendidikan tinggi yang "berani" membuka jurusan Sastra Toraja, sekalipun lembaga itu sendiri berlabel Toraja.

Where is Toraja ?

Toraja highland be located in South of Sulawesi, Indonesia, South East Asia. About 320 kilometer from Makassar, can be achieved by Airplane or by bus.
If you fill bus, you also will enjoy to trace the street from Makassar to Toraja. You can see closed the others ethnic that majority consists of Bugis. Bugis also have unique culture that really different with Torajan Culture.
You will trace west beach of South Sulawesi from Barru to Pare-pare and also enjoy with Bambapuang mountains in Enrekang. Where in the Bambapuang you will start get the fresh air until you find Toraja, a cool climate land.
You can get a few good transportation service that managed with professional.Trip to Toraja that's means, Makassar is a part of your trip, caused by Makassar is an International Airport and also a beautiful city that known with Losari Beach that them say as longest restaurant in the world.