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In Tetum, "Tebe" literally means "to kick with the feet". Tebe is a traditional Timorese dance known as Tebe-Tebe. It’s practiced in all municipalities of Timor-Leste, including Indonesian Timor (the western part of the island). This dance involves people holding hands, forming a circle or line, while dancing to the rhythm of traditional musical instruments or to the sound of traditional songs. Tebe is called by different names among various ethnolinguistic groups. It includes several forms, each designed to fulfill a specific purpose within the community, as passed down by the ancestors. Depending on its functions, tebe can be classify into three categories: • Tebe in Cultural ceremonies. Tebe in cultural ceremonies performed as a way of connecting and communicating with God or nature. The songs that accompany them often mention the sun, the moon, and high mountains, symbolizing requests for help and expressing gratitude. Tebe in this category include: tebe-beirana, from the municipality of Ermera; tebe-sosé and esalelo, from the municipality of Bobonaro; and tebe-Leoleo, from the municipality of Ainaro. These dances are widely performed in traditional ceremonies, such as sau-batar (corn harvesting), bolu-udan (invoking rain), hapara-udan (stopping rain), kuru bee lulik (fetching sacred water), and the inauguration ceremony of uma-lulik (sacred house), among others. • Tebe for festive entertainment. Tebe in entertainment is often performed during activities such as the construction of sacred houses, the harvesting of corn, the threshing of rice, the dragging of wood, and the celebration of national days. Festive dances include: tebe-sandole from the municipality of Liquiça; tebe-ohelelele and tebe-odi from the municipality of Baucau; tebe-herlelek and tali-bole from the municipality of Viqueque; tebe-cheilaho uma anakenu and tebe-oleleleo from the municipality of Lautem; and tebe-lesuhere and tebe-goulolo from the municipality of Bobonaro. • Tebe (dance) to welcome guests. It is performed to welcome the official government visitors or other special guests. Communities organize a warm welcome to express joy and show hospitality. Reception dances include: tebe-foder, from Ermera; tebe-kurikai and semanese, from Ainaro; and tebe-sai-rain, from Viqueque. The tebe sai-rain dance, in particular, is performed on a special occasion to welcome a newborn, during a ceremony known as "fase-matan" washing of the baby's eyes.