Houses with boat-shaped roofs and stone jumping traditions. Does it sound intriguing? You are standing before the North Sumatra Pavilion. This pavilion is located in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. It offers a glimpse into North Sumatra’s diverse culture.
The North Sumatra Pavilion showcases the province’s rich heritage. It does this through its architecture and exhibits. The province of North Sumatra is located on the northern part of the island of Sumatra. It is Indonesia’s fourth most populous province.
Notice the beautiful design of the entrance gate. The pavilion displays different styles of traditional houses. These styles reflect the local cultures of North Sumatra.
Take a closer look at the House of Batak Simalungun. Admire the head on one of the main floor beams. Each province is responsible for its own pavilion.
The House of Malay is another popular structure here. You can find similar houses in Malaysia. This house represents the Malay ethnic group in Sumatra.
Look at the large yellow house. It faces the pavilion entrance. See the roof with several openings. Each opening represents a generation living in the house. New openings are added for each new generation. The house has movable partitions. These create separate sleeping quarters at night. During the day, they are pushed aside. This makes a large open communal area.
Inside this house, you can see the North Sumatra exhibition. It displays clothes like wedding costumes and dance attire. Artifacts are also exhibited. These include ceremonial masks, shields, spears and musical instruments. Utensils and tools are also on display.
Have you heard about the Nias stone jumping tradition? The Nias are an ethnic group from North Sumatra. They have a manhood initiation called Stone jumping or Fahombo. Young men must jump over a 2-meter high stone. They can’t touch it. They must land without hurting themselves. They wear traditional clothing. The initiation tests their physical strength. It is a requirement before going to war. It is also a mental challenge. Those who succeed are deemed adults. They are then allowed to marry.
Other traditional house styles are featured here. The Rumah Bolon house has a fighting sheep head. It also displays a large wheel at the top. The wheel symbolizes the center of the ethnic community. It also symbolizes the cycle of life.
The North Sumatra Pavilion also features replicas of traditional vernacular houses of the Nias people. The boat-shaped rumah adat is called Omo Hada. The houses are erected on stilts. They are notable for their steeply pitched roofs and skylights. The buildings offer a glimpse into traditional building techniques. These construction techniques have allowed the buildings to survive earthquakes. In 2007, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit. Carpenters working on restorations barely noticed the tremors. The flexible nail-less construction provides proven earthquake durability.
The massive Omo Hada called omo sebua was once the residence of the king of Tano Niha. The house was built on massive ironwood pillars. It has towering roofs. They are almost impregnable to attack.
As you leave the North Sumatra Pavilion, remember the cultural richness of this province. It’s a place of tradition and resilience. It is also a place of beauty and diversity. The North Sumatra Pavilion is a must-see destination in Mini Indonesia.