Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — In a remote village nestled along the Indonesia-Malaysia border at North Kalimantan, a centuries-old tradition took center stage. The Dayak Agabag tribe, indigenous to the Kalimantan region, recently conducted a sacred ritual known as “Dolop” to determine the truth behind a mysterious death.
Early in 2025, a recent viral video of the ritual, held at the Tulin River, shows two men preparing for a ceremonial dive. Thousands of villagers gathered to witness this ancient practice, a testament to the enduring cultural heritage of the Dayak people.
The Dolop ritual, a form of trial by ordeal, is believed to invoke the spirits of ancestors to reveal the truth. Sati Baru, the deputy head of the Dayak Agabag tribal council, states that in this case, the tribe was called upon to settle a dispute over the death of Esther, allegedly at the hands of her husband, Roy, as reported by Kompas.
Esther’s family, suspicious of her death, claimed to have found unusual marks on her body, including a blue line on her neck, head injuries, and bruises on her legs. With no concrete evidence to support their claims, the family turned to the tribal council, seeking justice through the traditional Dolop ritual.
The council, after hearing both sides of the story, agreed to a trial by water, announce the holding of the Dolop ritual.
Highest form of Justice
The Dolop ritual is considered the highest form of justice within Dayak Agabag community. By invoking the spirits of their ancestors, Dayak people believed they can uncover the truth and bring peace to the aggrieved parties.
According to kebudayaan.kemdikbud.go.id, this ritual has existed for centuries and has been used to resolve various legal cases within the community. The Dolop is considered a final option for dispute resolution and can only be carried out with the agreement of both parties involved, as well as the tribal elders.
The Dolop ritual carried out with the two parties involved in a dispute diving into a river to determine guilt or innocence. Before the dive, a traditional ceremony is conducted including the summoning of ancestral spirit as they plunge into the river.
According to local beliefs, the spirits of their ancestors are believed to be present, and the guilty party will be unable to resist the spiritual pull and will surface first.
The community believes that the ancestral spirits help determine the truth, and the guilty party will rise to the surface like a floating feather, rather than due to lack of oxygen.
Ritual Procession and Requirement
The success of the Dolop ritual largely depends on the wisdom and ability of the tribal elders who conduct the ritual. While the process of the ritual involves several stages.
First, the tribal elders begin the ceremony by invoking the spirits of their ancestors. As explained by Bajib Mesak, a young member of the Agabag community, the ritual involves summoning the spirits of ancestors through a special ceremony. The spirits from both the land and the sea are called upon to witness the proceedings.
After the invocation, the accused individuals or the parties in dispute are instructed to dive into the river. A special type of wood called kalambuku, which marks the diving spot was needed during the diving ceremony.
Following the dive, the elder will observed which party resurface first from the Dive. After determined to be guilty, a traditional fine, agreed upon by both parties, is imposed on the guilty party. This fine can include livestock, property, or even land.
Read also : Lamaholot Tribe Lewak Tapo Ritual: A Mystical Tradition to Uncover the Cause of Death
Beyond its role in dispute resolution, the Dolop ritual also serves as the community’s identity and values. It is a powerful symbol of the tribe’s connection to their ancestral heritage and their commitment to preserve their traditional ways of life.
(Raidi/Agung)
