The Magnificent Three. Police in Sumba island.

The Brave Three of the half million Indonesian police officers.

Ready to catch thieves and bad guys in Sumba.

The horse as a symbol of power and wealth in Sumba's ikat.

The horse is a symbol of wealth in Sumba, as well as the cow among African Maasai. Although Merapu culture is preserved only in the West Sumba, traditional ikats woven on the entire island show rich Sumbanese mythology.

Traditionally designed ikats depict folk tales where the horse plays a important role. To this day, the sacrifice of the horse during a funeral is an act of highest respect for the deceased.

Many local traditions declinig in daily life, are still alive in the ikat's design. Bride kidnapping emphasises qualities of the groom : courage, independence, maturity.

The chicken sacrifice. Sumba Island

The animal sacrifice is important and significant activity in the Merapu culture.
In West Sumba the animal sacrifice takes place every day.
Chicken is a perfect medium, cheap and available everywhere on the island.
Skilled medicine man can read easy the devine sighs.

Medicine men made the chicken sacrifice on the royal tomb. Ikat

The communication with the ancestors during the funeral is important. The deceased may provide guidance for the living in the village.

The last will of leaving soul can be read from the guts of the slain animal.

Talking with spirits takes place in everyday life.
Old medicine man prays before killing the chicken.

Slitting throat of animal. Blood drips into a wooden bowl.

Plucked feathers. Important is the number of feathers. An odd number on a particular day can mean a bad omen.

Reading a message from chicken's guts.

Mamuli and snake. East Sumba

I'm interested in this snake. Does anyone know the meaning of this symbol on the island of Sumba ?

The stone from Sumbanese tomb.

Woman's vagina and other symbols on Sumba's ikats.

Symbolism is a hobby of millions of people. Take a look at some important symbols in the Marapu culture.
Well, reading symbols is a difficult task. They hide many meanings. We remain today with simple explanations: mamuli - a symbol - medium for communicating with ancestors.

Woman's vagina called mamuli guarded by two Marapu ghosts.

Of course, every ikat is used for practical purpose.

Blankets are used for covering up on cool nights. Ikat is a kind of saddle.
The important deceased is shrouded in ikat, as well as some animals intended for slaughter on the day of the funeral.

Graves stones.

Patula bunga - design reserved only for the royal family.

Three men from Sumba Island.

Many men still practise the Marapu religion. If the Sumbanese lose the faith of their ancestors, they will be cut off the cultural roots. They can become dull as the Batak of Sumatra.

I hope they can defend their culture and beliefs as the Balinese.

Sumbanese ikat weavers still use natural indigo paint and minerals.

Traditional Sumba's ikats are colored with natural dyes.

The blue color is derived from the indigo ( Indigofera tinctoria ).

The cotton thread is dyed several times before final weaving.

Earlier designed patterns are marked by the plant's overlay on deyd yarn.
The warf yarn dyed by indigo dries for several days.

It is then dyed by a mineral paints from red to brownish tones.

The entire warf has to dry for a few weeks time before it will be installed on a loom.

Today, when the weaving process still takes several months, the men and women work together creating magical textile.

Ikat from Sumba. Marapu and a scull tree.

Two effigies in the shape of human Marapu and a totem tree with enemy’s heads. The ikat dyed with natural paints and produce on the loom. The entire process of dyeing and weaving lasted over four months.

Size : 2.8 meter x 0.7 meter.

Value of this unique ikat: $ 1,200.