CHAPTER 3
DESCRIPTION OF ULOS BATAK
3. 1 General Description Of Ulos
The Batakland, located in the centre of the region, are known for their hand- woven textiles. Made exclusively by women, these cloths are used as traditional
clothing and ritual gifts of exchange. Ulos is a rectangular piece of traditional woven cloth, holds significant traditional values that is respected and used in various sacred
ceremonies. It symbolize a great many thing, physically, and spiritually, therefore carries great importance and meaning to be the people of Toba Batak not only worn,
it is also used in many religious initation such as birth, marriage, death and many other rites.
The Batak Toba have a story of weaving cloth of the soul Ulos ni tondi for ritual and ceremonial purposes that dates back to their earliest history. Weaving is
still a vital and important part of the Toba Batak way of life. The traditional Batak Toba Ulos is handmade on a body tension back strap loom using hand dyed thread.
Often villages produce only one or two Ulos designs, slight variations are seen between weavers. Some pieces have limited avaibility. Natural dyes are used in
combination with commercial dyes. Twinning and brIding are techniques specifically used by the Batak Toba. Women are traditional weavers, children and men assist in
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twinning and spooling. Ulos has some rituals and ceremonial meaning and are worn as head cloth, shoulder o hip cloth. Toba Batak are proud and cherish their own
personal Ulos Batak and weaving traditions. Today you can see a fabulous array of personal Ulos being worn at ceremonies and celebrations, or being used as everyday
carrying cloths and clothing. There are three ways to use Ulos in Batak Toba culture: 1.
Siabithononton is used: Ragidup, Sibolang, Runjat, Djobit, Ragi Pangko. 2.
Sihadanghononton is used on the head or just put on your shoulder: Sirara, Sombat Bolean, Mangiring, Suri-suri, and Sadum.
3. Sitalihononton is used on your waist like a sarong: Tumtuman, Mangiring,
and Padangrusa. Traditionally and to this day Ulos Batak form part of a family’s assets. Ulos
are brought out and worn or displayed during ceremonies, used as dowry items and exchange during ceremonies. Batak families keep a careful eye on which clan donates
what type of Ulos and give certain Ulos back in exchange in a very formal, ritualized set of ceremonies as a family asset, these textile were sometimes sold to raise cash for
education, funeral, wedding, birth and reburial tomb mangokhal holi, etc. There are some of weaving equipment: pipisan, sorha, anian, erdeng-erdeng or hulhulan, baliga,
balobas, turak, hasoli, parsosaan, songka, lili, paniratan, tipak, etc.
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3. 2 Definition and The Meaning of Ulos