Ethnobotanical Studies in the Mangrara Banua Tongkonan Toraja Traditional Ceremony

Abstract

Plants are used in the Mangrara Banua traditional ceremonial, one of the Toraja people's traditional rites, among other things. The Tongkonan House, the customary residence of the Toraja tribe, holds a ceremony of thankfulness called Mangrara Banua. The purpose of this ethnobotanical study is to identify the kinds of plants that the Toraja people utilized in their traditional ceremonial known as Mangrara Banua. The Mangrara Banua Tongkonan Tok Serrek Traditional Ceremony, Maruang Batu Rongko, Sopai District, and the Mangrara Banua Tongkonan Randan Aya' Bebo' Traditional Ceremony, Sangalla Utara District, respectively, were the sites of the research from November 2022 to April 2023. Observation, interviews, and documentation are used to acquire data. Utilizing purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods, respondents were chosen. A qualitative descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data that was acquired. The findings revealed that the Mangrara Banua Tongkonan Toraja tribe deemed 23 plant species from 15 families to be significant in their ancient rituals. Different roles are played by these plant species in conventional ceremonial processions. The leaf and stem organs of plants are the ones that are most frequently utilized in this ritual. However, certain plants are also grown for their fruit and tubers. Because it is a custom passed down from the ancestors, the plants utilized in this ritual cannot be substituted with other plants. In an effort to protect plants, the Toraja people encourage planting activities in both their own and Tongkonan yards.