RITUAL VUNJA MASYARAKAT KAILI

ABSTRACT
The vunja ritual is a ritual of the Kaili tribe's oral tradition that is carried out by making offerings to the ancestors who are placed on the vunja pole. The purpose of this research is to (1) reveal the form of the vunja ritual, (2) reveal the meaning of the vunja ritual, and (3) reveal the function of the vunja ritual. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method with a hermeneutic approach. The data source for this research is the oral data of the Vunja ritual utterances through informants. Data collection techniques used include observation, interviews, recording, and documentation. Data analysis used includes data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and inference. The results showed that the procession of carrying out the vunja ritual consisted of eight stages, namely: (1) molibu; (2) mompelohi; (3) mompanggahe; (4) mompayo there—there were humans; (5) mommbangu vunja; (6) mompanau ntoniasa; (7) rego; and (8) patompo manu. The meaning contained in the vunja ritual includes (1) the meaning of the verbal symbol and (2) the meaning of the nonverbal symbol of each procession that is carried out. The function of the vunja ritual is as a form of expression of gratitude to the ancestors who have provided abundant harvests and as a form of offering in the hope of even better results in the next planting season.
Keyword: vunja ritual, harvest feast