Going for Bakar Batu (Video)

I planned to go home to Jayapura on Friday (21/10), but things went longer than predicted, therefore I stayed for couple more days. 

Lucky me, because I had the chance to see Bakar Batu or Stone Burnt Party. The Bakar Batu was held on Friday, to commemorate the closing of Klasis Meeting. 

The day before, I met a group of villagers in Wandenggobak. They were carrying noken containing vegetables, hipere (sweet potatoes), leaves, and gourds. They said they have walked tens of kilos to reach Mulia and attend the event.

Anyway, these are another short clips of the group.

(you see how the Ugurage boy ran fastly on a steep road) 

According information I gathered from local people and the internet, Bakar Batu is a traditional ritual that is done as a form of gratitude. It’s held on various event, such us marriage, peace after war, blessings, and even as death ceremony.

Bakar Batu is a tradition for people inhibiting Baliem Valley (Jayawijaya Regency), Wamena, and central highlands area of Papua (including Puncak Jaya Regency).

During the ceremony, usually the men will prepare knee-high hole, covered them with grass and leaves (banana, cassava, sweet potatoes).  Meanwhile, the women will prepare the meat. 
Stones and firewood are heated for an hour. 

When they're ready, the stones are put in the lowest part of the hole, followed by firewood, and layers of meat (pork, chicken), leaves, vegetables, and hipere. 

They wait until an hour or so to have it well-cooked, then the hole is opened. 

Everybody gathered, and enjoy the food together. Such a joy!