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Paradise Birds in Papuan Traditional Dance
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Birds of paradise cannot be separated with Papuan culture. Nearly most of the tribes in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya use paradise birds in their traditional costumes. The beautiful yellow, white, green, and brown feather of the birds are put on the heads of girls who perform dance for welcoming important government, religious leaders. The use of burung cendrawasih or birds of paradise in traditional clothing has been known for hundreds of years. Every Papuan family has at least one preserved or dried skin of bird of paradise at home which they can use on certain traditional occasions. The use of paradise birds does not threaten the population of the birds because the dried skin can be used from one generation to another. The patterns of the dance also similar to how the birds of paradise dance in open nature usually on the branches and twigs of tall trees.
On the above photograph, you can see how the dried paradise birds are used to decorate the heads of traditional dancers who participated in a cultural street parade that took place in Manokwari on 6 February 2011. This is an annual event that is organized by the local provincial government of Papua Barat. The same cultural parade, also called Karnaval Budaya, was conducted by GKI di Tanah Papua on 3 February to commemorate the landing of two European missionaries, Ottow and Geissler, in Mansinam island. The participants of the parades come from regencies in Papua and West Papua provinces and sometimes from other provinces in Indonesia. Because there are hundreds of tribes in this region, their traditional costumes and dances are also different. Besides wearing the dried skin or preserved feather of paradise birds, the dancers also wear Timor cloth (kain timor) which is still used by many tribes in Papua as dowry. Because the cloth is important in marriage or wedding ceremony, its price is expensive.
In addition to the feather of the paradise birds that are worn by women in their heads, the male dancers usually wear the feather or hair of Kasuari bird (Casuarius Casuarius). The hair color of this bird is mainly black. The dancers are accompanied by musicians who use drums (called tifa) and guitar. The guitar is manually made from big size timber that is cut from the nearby tropical rainforest. Papuan people have various kinds of dances that are beautiful and unique compared to other tribes from other islands in Indonesia.
This annual celebration of cultural parade is closely connected with the Gospel Preaching Day that is officially celebrated on 5 February in Mansinam island. Christians pilgrims from all corners of Papua come to Manokwari city every February to participate in the event. They perform traditional dance and sing hymns and Papuan songs. The event is now attracting the attention of foreign tourists especially from the Netherlands.
Tourism industry is growing in West Papua province of Indonesia due to various attractions that the region has. Manokwari can be reached easily by some airlines that operate their airplanes every week from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Makasar, Surabaya, Denpasar and Ambon. Besides the annual religious celebration in February, tourists can fly to Manokwari by Batavia air, or other national airlines in Indonesia to Manokwari city to watch magnificent birds of paradise in Arfak mountains or the lesser birds of paradise in Senopi. Coral reef in Kaki island and Raimuti are affordable snorkeling sites to those who love to see the beauty of the underwater world of tropical island of Papua. by Charles Roring
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Travel Guide Manokwari
The following articles are my recommendation, stories and experience when guiding foreign tourists who come to Manokwari of West Papua to enjoy the beauty of its natural scenery and the hospitality of the indigenous people. This website is aimed at promoting eco-tourism in the region to create jobs among the indigenous people and awareness among us about the importance of protecting and preserving tropical rainforest that is now facing extinction due to rapid deforestation.
Happy Traveling
Charles Roring (click to e-mail me)
Tourist Guide
If you want to read more stories about travel in Manokwari of West Papua, you can see my other blogs at the following addresses:
Papuan Art and Culture Stories
My personal diary on Manokwari Eco-tourism activities
