Why Buffaloes In Toraja Are Expensive, The Price Can Reach Billions For The Tedong Bonga Type

Why are buffalo in Toraja expensive (Freepic)

YOGYAKARTA - In Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, it becomes a special or special animal. Considered a high-value animal, the price of buffalo in the area can reach billions of rupiah. Of the various types of buffalo that exist, the most expensive are lichen buffalo or bongongs. Why are buffalo in Toraja expensive?

Tedong bonga is considered a buffalo with the highest caste in Toraja, so the value is very high. This type of buffalo even has a selling price equivalent to the price of one Toyota Alphard unit. Therefore, local people often call it the "King".

Apart from being consumed, buffalo also have an important role in the traditional ceremony of Rambu Solo. This animal symbolizes prosperity as well as being a spirit vehicle to the afterlife. As one of the cultural properties in Indonesia, it is interesting to listen to why buffalo in Toraja are expensive and used for what.

Prof. Ronny Rachman Noor, Professor of Quality and Genetics from the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), stated that the striped buffalo has a crucial role for the people of Tana Toraja. This is related to the traditions and beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation.

"For the people of Toraja, buffalo not only symbolizes the welfare of their owners but is also an important part of the Solo Rambu ceremony. The ritual of funerals that have been rooted in the culture of the Toraja people," said Ronny Rachman, quoted from the official PPID IPB website.

Toraja's distinctive striped buffalo has an important role in traditional rituals. Local people believe that buffalo are not only a symbol of power, but also a ride for spirits to heaven.

It is also believed that the more buffalo that are sacrificed in the Solo Rambu ceremony, the better the lives of ancestors in the afterlife. This belief is the reason why the price of striped buffalo in Toraja is so high.

"Therefore, the price of a striped buffalo ranges from hundreds of millions to 1 billion rupiah," said Prof Ronny Rachman.

According to the official website of the South Sulawesi Provincial Language Center, the word "Tedong" in Toraja means buffalo. While the word "Bonga" means stripe. Therefore, Tedong Bonga can be interpreted as a striped buffalo. This Toraja-style buffalo has a stripe pattern all over his body, with a white color known as an albino skin characteristic.

Based on information from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the albino condition in buffalo is caused by a TYR gene mutation that inhibits the production of amino acids. This mutation causes the tyrosinase enzyme to not form, so that buffalo skin becomes white or striped.

Tedong Bonga is not an ordinary type of buffalo and is very rare to find. This scarcity makes the price much more expensive than other buffalo.

For the people of the Toraja Tribe, Tedong Bonga or buffalo albino symbolizes welfare. These animals also reflect the level of wealth and social status of their owners.

The Toraja people believe that Tedong Bonga is a sacred creature that is sacred. They believe that this buffalo will be a vehicle that carries the spirit to nirvana after death.

Based on the journal Muhammadiyah Pare-Pare University entitled "Social Status Relationship to Purchase of Tedong Bonga for the Toraja Tribe Community", the more and more Tedong Bonga's sacrifice in traditional ceremonies, the higher a person's social status. On the other hand, if a person is unable to touch a buffalo, his social status will be considered to be declining and at risk of being ignored by the community.

In the tradition of death of the Toraja people called the Solo Rambu, families who cannot afford buffalo are considered a disgrace or a form of error. This is due to a deep sense of shame if you cannot fulfill your customary obligations in respecting death properly.

That's why buffalo in Toraja are expensive because they are considered special and high-value animals. The Tedong Bonga Buffalo is considered the highest type of buffalo with a highest caste that can reach billions. Also read the tradition of Toraja solo signs.

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