At funerals of the Toraja people in Sulawesi Island, visitors are welcomed with traditional songs and dances. One of the dances is the warriors’ dance, which is performed by dancers that shriek, mimicking the sounds made by monkeys. Singing, dancing, and prayers continue day and night during the funeral period. A unique bamboo instrument called pompang is played. The dance is simple but solemn. A song that praises the dead called badong is sung.

A war ritual that mimics fighting with spears is practiced during the Pasola festival in Sumba Island. A dance is performed to pray for their safety. Women dance with raised swords in their hands to the sound of drums and gongs played by young men. They circle a rock under which the beheaded skulls of their enemies are buried. The dancing procession is led by older women followed by girls. After the dance is repeated several times, the men begin to dance. It is a warriors’ dance performed with long spears and shields. They dance into the early morning, taking in the courage and strength of their ancestors and praying for safety throughout the festival.

The Batak people of Sumatra Island play the traditional music of gondang and dance the manortor at funerals. When visitors come to pay their respects, the entire household greets them with dance and the visitors enter dancing. Visitors express their condolences by holding the faces or necks of the bereaved family members in their two hands and touching their heads or cheeks. They give rice, which they have carried on their heads, as a donation to the bereaved family.