Samosir Island, The Ancient Land of Batak People - North Sumatra

Samosir Island

Everyone knows about Toba Lake or Danau Toba, which is one of the largest lake in the world, and the largest and the most popular destination in Indonesia. The lake is like a vast ocean approximately about 100 km x 30 km. In the middle of the lake, there is a large island. That is Samosir Island, it situated at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. According to research from Michigan Technological University researchers, the United States, at Lake Toba, in the period of 75.500 years ago, there was a terrifying explosion which destroyed human beings, animals and plants.

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The eruption was spew rocks and volcanic ashes for as far as 2000 km. The eruption was make a vomit darkness up to two weeks. The impact of the eruption was the formation of a large volcanic crater, long after the eruption, the crater filled with water that eventually formed a large lake, that is Lake Toba. While, about the existence of Samosir Island, it was formed due to the magma pressure that not yet coming from the earth.

Samosir island is officially settled in Samosir regency, where there is two lakes in it, which is Sidihoni lake and Aek Natonang lake those lakes are famous as lake above the lake.

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Tuk tuk is the main concentration of tourism destination in Samosir Island. To reach Tuk tuk, the visitors can reach by an hour ferry ride across the lake from Parapat city. The visitors will reach Parapat from Medan for about 4 hours ride. Following the ride across by ferry to Samosir for about an hour ride or 10 minutes ride across by speed boat.

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As we know, that north Sumatra is the homeland of Batak people, so is this island. Samosir island is the centre of the Batak culture and many of this people’s artifacts remain on the island. Moreover, the people believe that this island was the origin of Batak people because of there is Pusuk Buhit. Pusuk Buhit is a hill with an altitude of more than 1800 meters above the surface of Lake Toba. This hill is believed to be the universe or “Mulajadi Nabolon” or the Almighty God who revealed himself. Moreover, in this district there is Mulamula Sianjur Village which is the first village of Batak society. In this village there is a cultural heritage in the form of a miniature house Si Raja Batak.

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Samosir Island Map

Samosir Island Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV1k0tc7FBw

Video by: Pakcuvideo

Batak People

Batak People, is the indigenous tribe of North Sumatra Island. One of the significant tribe in Indonesia. They live on highland of Sumatra, precisely on Tapanuli. There are terms from Batak people, include of Batak Karo, Pakpak, Dairi, Toba, Simalungun, Mandailing, and Angkola.

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On daily life, Batak people use some dialect on their language, like Karo dialect that being used by Batak Karo people, Pak Pak dialect by Pak Pak people, Simalungun dialect by Simalungun people and Toba dialect that being used by Toba, Angkola and Mandailing people.

Batak people is still have an ancient tradition of mutual assistance in farming their land. In Karo, this activity called as Raron, while on Toba is called Marsiurupan. This raron itself described as a group of relatives or neighborhood are gather to do someone’s land and each member take a turn.

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In social manners, Batak people are really concern with the way they set the tradition strictly. Like the way in their marriage held, Batak people are not allow to marry with someone from their own Marga. Batak people are set to be patriarchal organized along clans known as Marga or taken by Father’s last name. Hence, they believe that someone whose have the same Marga is a brother or sister. That makes them forbid to marry with someone who has the same last name. They have to marry with someone from other clan. While, when someone wants to get marry to other person out of Batak people, he or she has to be adopted by other clan in order “to be included” as Batak member.

Batak social stratification based on four principles, they are; the different age level, the different status and positions, differences in characteristic and marital status.

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Tarombo or Lineage is represent something that is very important for Batak people. For those who do not know lineage would be considered a stray Batak (nalilu). For Batak people especially men are required to know the his lineage ancestors and friends who has the same Marga (dongan Tubu). This is needed to know to understand the kinship (partuturanna) in the same clan or marga.

Most of Batak people are Christian. at first, Islam was in about 19 Century which was spread along South Batak and Christianity came about 1863 along North Batak. Nevertheless, there are lots of Batak people still maintains the original concept of their ancient religion. The first Huria Kristen Batak Protestan [HKBP] as Batak church was build in 1917, while in 1941 Gereja Batak Karo Protestan (GBKP) was starting to build.

Batak people have the conception that the universe and its contents are created by Debeta Mula Jadi Na Balon and resides above the sky and have the names according to their duties and position. Debeta Mula Jadi Na Balon referred to residing in heaven and is a great creator. While, Siloan Na Balom referred to world ruler spirit.

Concerning about spirit and soul, Batak people believe on three concepts; Tondi is soul or spirit, Sahala is soul or spirit of one’s own strength and Begu is someone’s Tondi that already death. Traditional Batak people also believe in the power of magic talisman called Tongkal.

Batak people have six cultural values, they are:

Kinship, this Bataknese kinship is implemented on Dalian Na Talu, where someone has to found their spouse out of their marga. People is one group is being called as Sabutuha or brothers. To groups that accept to marry a girl called hula-hula, while for groups that give the girl called Boru.

Hagabeon, Significant cultural value of long life expectancy, birth attendants, and something good wishes.

Hamoraan, Batak value honorary on balancing between the spiritual aspects and material.

Uhum and Ugari, Uhum value reflected on the seriousness of the Batak people in upholding justice, while ugari seen in faithfulness to a promise.

Aegis, Aegis of the society should be given to the environment, these tasks entailed by the three elements of Dalihan Na Tolu.

Marsisarian, a value which means to mutual understanding, respect and help each other.

Batak people are live from their ideology and still hold the culture from their ancestor. That make them to be the real Batak.




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Nice sharing! All the views shown above are amazing! I think to spend some time on this beach site in a sunny day can be fabulous. Samosir Island sounds a quite interesting cultural attraction. I want to visit this Island after my miami bus tours. Let me know what time will be best to visit this Island?