Batak Culture

Geographical Location

Batak is a traditional ethnic group located in the

mountainous highlands of Northern Sumatera. It is located in west
of Indonesia. Batak is one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia.
They are divided into six groups, Batak Toba, Pak Pak, Simalungun,
Karo, Mandailing, and Angkola. The estimated total population of
Batak is 3 million.
 Language
The Batak Languages are spoken by the Batak
people of North Sumatera Indonesia.

Examples:
Uncle : Tulang
Aunt : Nantulang
Grandpa : Opung Doli
Grandma : Opung Boru
Girl : Boru
Eat : Mangan
Sleep : Modom
Traveling : Mardalani
Fighting : Marbadai
Eyes : Pamereng
Face : Bohi
Short : Cendek
Crazy : Gerot
Garbage Collector: Goni Botot
 RELIGION

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The mayority people in Batak are Christian. They have an ethnic Church that
mostly spread in Indonesia. It usually known as HKBP Church. In Batak, there are also some
religion such like Islam, Catholic, Buddha, Hindu.
 TRADITIONAL RELIGION
( Parmalim)
First, Parmalim is a spiritual movement to defend the
traditional custom and old-belief that threatened by a new
religion from Holland. But this movement started to spread
over the island and became the political movement to unite
the batak people so the can fight against colonizers. Parmalim
also a part of Batak Culture.
- God: Mulajadi Na Bolon (Almighty God, Creators of
all things)
- Place for religion service: Bale Parpitaan and Bale
Partonggoan
- Holy Book: Tumbaga Holing
- Spiritual Figure: Raja Uti
- Prohibition: Usury, eat blood, pig, dog, monkey
- Holy Day: Saturday
- This religion doesn’t believe about heaven and hell.
There is no lessons that exactly explain to them
about the reward or punishment for their behavior.
- Their purpose is to get blessings from Mulajadi Na
Bolon, and also from their ancestors.
 CUSTOM HOUSE
The Custom House from Batak is called
Bolon House or Gorga House. There are six
types of Bolon House according to the six
local ethnic group of Batak.

Ornament meaning:
- Lizard: Bataknese can survived in
everywhere.
- Snake: The family will get blessings.
- Buffalo: As the gratitude for the buffalo
that always help their activities.

The shape of Bolon House is rectangular. It

has many long wood to hold the house. It’s
about 1,75 m. So the visitors must use the
stairs to come into the house.
Traditional Custom/Clothing

Decorations in traditional custom:

- Ulos cloth
For man: Hande-Hande, Ampu (head
cover)
Singkot (waist cover)
- Sortali: head band
- Kebaya
- Bulang: Crown
- Bobar: waist band
Traditional dance

Tor-Tor
- Original dance from Batak
Toba
- Every movement is a
communication media to
express interaction in every
events
- The dancers use Ulos
 Fun Facts
• Batak people usually speaks loudly
• Get married with pariban (Cousin). If you are a girl,
you can married with your cousin from your father.
• Tuhor “money to buy”. For marry a women
• Lizard becomes a symbol for bataknese. Bataknese
can survived in everywhere.