Pati Ka Ata Mata, Ritual in Peak Kelimutu

One morning, the weather was overcast and drizzling rain. However, when the sun began to rise, the weather turned bright and lively, especially decorated rerumpunan arngoni (Vaccinium varingiaefolium), endemic plants flourish around the top Kelimutu. Arngoni plants that have been fresh and ripe fruit as well as warmly welcomed the presence of mosalaki pu'u (traditional elders) that meet that day at the helipad area of the core zone of National Park area Flores, Regency Ende, Flores island, East Nusa Tenggara. While waiting for the ritual begins, the mosalaki also used the time to see the beauty panorama of three crater lakes with different water colors, both in the world no. Flores National Park area is administratively located within the 5 districts, namely Sub Wolowaru, Flores, East Ndona, Ndona, and Detusoko. The mosalaki did not get enough of staring at clumps arngoni has cooked fruit, a small black. They were so careful when going to touch it because the fruit is also believed to be arngoni food of the gods or spirits of ancestors in Lake Kelimutu.

At around 11:00 Wita, the ritual begins. Day for the first time at the top of Lake Flores, with a height of 1777 meters above sea level, Ata held Mata Ka Pati, feeding ceremonies for ancestors or the dead. Domestic and foreign tourists were pouring out at the helipad area. They do not want to miss the historic event was captured. So did the people around and also the media. The procession begins nine mosalaki ritual representing nine tribes in traditional dress were offerings to be taken to dakutatae, a natural stone as a monument where the offerings. Offerings are presented in the form of rice, meat sacrificial animals (pigs), Moke (a kind of local wine), cigarettes, betel nut, and lime.

Nine mosalaki pu'u it together into a stone monument and together the offerings are placed on the monument, which means that the nine mosalaki position no higher nor lower. "This traditional ritual followed by all indigenous communities in the region Lio. This ritual is at once art assets as well as local culture that should be preserved national. This ritual can also unite the tribes Lio, "said mosalaki Detusoko, Emanuel K Ndopo. Ende Regency is composed of two tribes, namely Ende and Lio. Ende tribe dominant areas in the west to the south, while the tribes of the City Ende Lio to the east to the north.

Eating ancestors
After feeding ancestors conducted by the mosalaki, then the visitors, by mosalaki, also offered to contribute to enjoy the offerings as a sign of delight along with the ancestors. Stage and the ritual continued with gawi, dance with the mosalaki with stones around the monument. "This event is a surprise for me. I am also very lucky because I did not know at all customary rites will be held the first time in here. My original intention recreation, "said Philippe Cazaux, tourists from France, who is also his profession as a teacher in the country.

Some mosalaki said Ata Ka Pati eyes held a prayer intended to raise the spirits of the ancestors - in addition to refusing reinforcements, also to be kept away from areas Ende and fertilized natural disasters that can provide prosperity for its people. The reason, in 1996 a male tourist from the Netherlands died in Lake Kelimutu. In 2004 residents Pemo Village, District Flores, committed suicide in the lake. At the end of 2008 was also found dead of a tent village residents, District Wolojita, in light green color of the lake or lake where the spirits of young people (Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai). All the victims bodies remain in the lake because of the difficulty of terrain, so the bodies could not be evacuated. From the myth of hereditary believed by society Lio Ende, Flores Lake peak area is home or the gathering of the spirits of the dead. The gate (pere bun) Lake Kelimutu Konde guarded by the Queen, the ruler.

Three craters
At the top there Kelimutu three crater lakes, in addition to Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai, is Tiwu Ata Polo are dark green now (before December 2008 are blackish brown), which is believed to be a gathering place for the wicked. The third lake, Tiwu Mbupu Ata, the old dark blackish green which is a gathering place for the spirits of parents.

That's why local people judge so sacred and hallowed Kelimutu peak area. They also do not dare to do any funny or reckless in it. Location of Lake Kelimutu approximately 55 kilometers east of Ende town. "This event is held by the Government as a form of Ende Regency cultural preservation area. From the traditional ceremony which has lasted from generation to generation, the feeding of the ancestors is only done in every home residents, village, or tribe. Now the ceremonies held at the top of Flores involving tribes Lio. Furthermore, this ritual will be held regularly once every year and this tradition is also a tourism agenda Ende, "said Head of Culture and Tourism District Labina Ende Anna Anny. Francis Lasa, Expert Staff Regent Ende Community Sector and Human Resources, argued, ritual Ata Mata Ka Pati is expected to be used by communities around the area to increase their income from tourism.

Each family completed
Head of the Park Soebiantoro Billy Flores said, is expected Ata Ka Pati eyes all events held after a similar custom in every tribe completed so that traditional ceremonies were held in Lake Kelimutu actually a series of peaks or the final rituals. Meanwhile, when a working visit to Ende on 10-16 August, Director of Community Empowerment Ministry of Culture and Tourism Bakri expect these rituals helped increase the income of the community, especially around Lake Kelimutu. It seriously needs to be facilitated by the department of culture and tourism. "They should do a good communication with the business travel and tourism bureau and the hotels so that the annual agenda of this traditional ritual can participate promoted out. Residents around the area also needs to be fostered so that they can actually receive, greet, and provide satisfactory services to tourists, "said Bakri.

He also mentioned the existence of the garden's horticultural area residents around Lake Kelimutu which can be utilized so that foreign tourists than to see Lake Kelimutu can also be directed to enjoy the variety of fruits and vegetables owned by citizens. "Local arts should also be encouraged, whether it's art or the art of dance music to the main attraction for tourists. Why arts in Java or Bali until now did not die? Because the arts in the region can provide added value to the community, "said Bakri.

Custom ceremony that was held there are still many shortcomings, one inaccuracies time implementation. Originally scheduled at 08.00 am, when the public and tourists thronged enthusiastically to the location that morning, the new ritual was held at 11.00. Unfortunately too, the ritual at the top of the mountain was relatively short. Traditional ceremonies should begin by cutting the sacrificial animals, cooking, until the preparation of the offerings can be packaged into a series of interesting cultural attractions that can be followed by the wider community. Party National Park or Regency Ende Flores can facilitate by providing a place of sale.