Sandung

It is an integral part of the Tiwah ceremony of the Ngaju people, which is basically a secondary burial ritual where the bones of the deceased are taken from the cemeteries, purified, and finally placed in a sandung.

The sandung is a wooden ossuary shaped like a small house, with ornate roofs, windows, doors, and miniature stairs.

Figures of man and woman painted on both side of the miniature door is said to represent a couple which would marry and produce children who will assist their parents in guarding the repository.

[3] In general, the Dayak people of the Kahayan region prefers large sandung capable of storing remains of many kin, assuring that they will form another household in the afterlife.

[1] There are many varieties and shapes of sandung, among those discovered in the villages of Ngaju people along the Kahayan River include:.

The Tiwah is the most important festival of the Ngaju people, where the soul of the dead is ensured safe journey to paradise.

The bones will be purified, cleaned and anointed with oil and gold dust by their closest kin e.g. their children or their grandchildren.