THE CEREMONY FOR THE BUILDING OF A NEW CANAL - BILLA VILLAGE, WEST TIMOR

People of Billa village gathered in a feast held after a ritual sacrifice to propitiate Uis Neno (their animist god) for the new water canal to work troughout the year. Billa Village, Amanuban Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia, Monday (July 22nd…

People of Billa village gathered in a feast held after a ritual sacrifice to propitiate Uis Neno (their animist god) for the new water canal to work troughout the year. Billa Village, Amanuban Timur, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia, Monday (July 22nd, 2019). The ritual, lead by a shaman (called dukun) involved the spilling of fresh blood of chickens into the new canal. Afterward, they roasted the sacrificed chickens in an open field nearby and ate together with rice and sambal. Fresh blood was part of the ritual sacrifice of their animism belief that is still held until today despite the presence of Christianity.

In the foreground the dukun (shaman) Paulus Nitiano, who performed the ritual.

In the foreground the dukun (shaman) Paulus Nitiano, who performed the ritual.

The chicken was roasted and eaten ritualistically with rice and spices by the villagers.

The chicken was roasted and eaten ritualistically with rice and spices by the villagers.

The new irrigation canal that the ceremony was held for.

The new irrigation canal that the ceremony was held for.

Women traditionally sit apart from the men.

Women traditionally sit apart from the men.

The Benenain river near Billa village

The Benenain river near Billa village

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Paulus Nitiano, who performed the ritual, was believed to have the power of mastering water by the people of Billa village. e inherited that from his father and gran father who had become part of a legendary story passed from generation to generatio…

Paulus Nitiano, who performed the ritual, was believed to have the power of mastering water by the people of Billa village. e inherited that from his father and gran father who had become part of a legendary story passed from generation to generation in the village

He was a quite but funny old man. As we were walking down the river, he would now and then point out which part of the river had dangerous current or which path of the water was safe to pass through. And the man guiding him would follow his instruct…

He was a quite but funny old man. As we were walking down the river, he would now and then point out which part of the river had dangerous current or which path of the water was safe to pass through. And the man guiding him would follow his instructions without questions.

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