As Southeastern Asian tribal life disappears, The batak people have managed to retain many aspects of their cultrual heritage.
Batak religion is found among the Batak societies around Lake Toba in
North Sumatra. While most batak people today are Christian, the Batak
religion is embrqaced in cultural traditions and artisitc form.
In the Batak religion myths and rituals focus on cultivation and kinship. The
two spheres are integrated into a cosmological order represented in
religious art forms, dance, oratory and gift giving ceremonies.
The kinship system is based on marriage alliances. The marriage system
is an important part of Batak religion and involves hours of ritual
oratory.
In this religion there is an upper world inhabited by gods, a middle
world lived in by men and a lower world that is the home of a dragon.
The creator is Mula Jati who links the three worlds and is lord of the
universe. Mula jati is both good and evil, male and female.
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Culture 
