As Southeastern Asian tribal life disappears, The batak people have managed to retain many aspects of their cultural 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 embraced in cultural traditions and artistic 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.