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Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is literally translated as betel leaves and areca betel nut; it is used in every ritual across the whole country. Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is metaphorically representing the idea of peace, prosperity, good health and protection from bad luck and other misfortune or misery in life. Commonly people used Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) as; offerings for welcoming guests, “buka urat” (ritual ceremony for healing people), “kuta” (mark of blessing on someone’s forehead), “kakaluk/biru” (a spiritual item) and etc. Generally, Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is used as an welcoming elements to welcome guests, besides, it’s an important element in every traditional rituals and ceremonies.

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Tara-Bandu is a traditional term refers to a widely held view within community. It’s a traditional custom that enforces peace and reconciliation trough the power of communal agreement to define social norms and practices acceptable to a given community. Tara-Bandu aims to regulate behavior and relations among people to people, people to animal and people to environment. The rules are set and whoever disobey the rules will get penalty for their acts. In Tara-Bandu ceremony includes sacrificing an animal as a common traditional practice across all community in Timor-Leste. As Timorese subsistence are commonly originate from agriculture, fisheries and livestock meanwhile Tara-Bandu has the role as customary traditions that regulate community members behaviors for their own environments; dry land and ocean that surrounds them from which they are dependent upon for their own daily livelihood. --- Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is literally translated as betel leaves and areca betel nut; it is used in every ritual across the whole country. Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is metaphorically representing the idea of peace, prosperity, good health and protection from bad luck and other misfortune or misery in life. Commonly people used Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) as; offerings for welcoming guests, “buka urat” (ritual ceremony for healing people), “kuta” (mark of blessing on someone’s forehead), “kakaluk/biru” (a spiritual item) and etc. Generally, Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is used as an welcoming elements to welcome guests, besides, it’s an important element in every traditional rituals and ceremonies.

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Betel leaves are placed in mama-fatin (small basket)

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Betel leaves, areca nuts, and slaked lime are combined to create a chewable mixture, a practice referred to as "mama" by the Timorese people

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Bua-malus is prepared for traditional ceremonies and rituals.

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This outlines the preparation of bua-malus for rituals

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In every meeting, Bua-malus serves as a vital icebreaker., or people chew (mama) bua-malus while having chats

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Dried areca nut seeds

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Mama-Fatin: A small basket designed to hold bua-malus and slaked lime, used for serving these items to others.

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In traditional ceremonies or gatherings, it is common to see mama-fatin placed or distributed to each person or group.

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In traditional ceremonies or gatherings, it is common to see mama-fatin placed or distributed to each person or group.

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In traditional ceremonies or gatherings, it is common to see mama-fatin placed or distributed to each person or group.

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Bua-malus, along with tools designed to pound them, are particularly useful for individuals who face challenges in chewing.

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Bua-malus, along with tools designed to pound them, are particularly useful for individuals who face challenges in chewing.

PI00008793

Bua-malus, along with tools designed to pound them, are particularly useful for individuals who face challenges in chewing.

PI00007245

Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is literally translated as betel leaves and areca betel nut; it is used in every ritual across the whole country. Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is metaphorically representing the idea of peace, prosperity, good health and protection from bad luck and other misfortune or misery in life. Commonly people used Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) as; offerings for welcoming guests, “buka urat” (ritual ceremony for healing people), “kuta” (mark of blessing on someone’s forehead), “kakaluk/biru” (a spiritual item) and etc. Generally, Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is used as an welcoming elements to welcome guests, besides, it’s an important element in every traditional rituals and ceremonies.

PI00007247

Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is literally translated as betel leaves and areca betel nut; it is used in every ritual across the whole country. Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is metaphorically representing the idea of peace, prosperity, good health and protection from bad luck and other misfortune or misery in life. Commonly people used Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) as; offerings for welcoming guests, “buka urat” (ritual ceremony for healing people), “kuta” (mark of blessing on someone’s forehead), “kakaluk/biru” (a spiritual item) and etc. Generally, Bua Malus(Bitternut betel-pepper or leaf) is used as an welcoming elements to welcome guests, besides, it’s an important element in every traditional rituals and ceremonies.

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Picking betel leaves

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Betel leaves are wrapped in banana leaves to ensure they remain fresh for several days

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Elderly individuals often carry a small basket containing betel leaves, areca nuts and slaked lime. The slaked lime is kept securely in a small tube inside the basket.

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Bua-malus and other items are prepared for blessings before being distributed to participants or placed in sacred locations.

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The guardians of the sacred house are distributing bua-malus to the baskets.

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In every meeting, Bua-malus serves as a vital icebreaker., or people chew (mama) bua-malus while having chats

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A man is selecting betel leaves and areca nuts for chewing "mama".

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In traditional ceremonies or gatherings, it is common to see mama-fatin placed or distributed to each person or group.

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In traditional ceremonies or gatherings, it is common to see mama-fatin placed or distributed to each person or group.

PI00008546

In traditional ceremonies or gatherings, it is common to see mama-fatin placed or distributed to each person or group.

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A tool crafted from iron and cow horn, traditionally used by elders with dental challenges to pound a mixture of betel leaves, areca nuts, and slaked lime for chewing.

PI00008790

Bua-malus, along with tools designed to pound them, are particularly useful for individuals who face challenges in chewing.

PI00008792

Bua-malus, along with tools designed to pound them, are particularly useful for individuals who face challenges in chewing.

PI00008794

An elderly man, facing difficulties with chewing, is pounding bua-malus to make them easier to consume.