Sipaha Sada: A New Year Ritual in The Parmalim Tradition of The Toba Batak Community
Abstract
Sipaha Sada is a New Year's celebration ritual in the Ugamo Malim (Parmalim) tradition of the Toba Batak people, held in the first month of the Batak calendar. This study aims to analyze the symbolic meaning, implementation process, and socio-spiritual function of the Sipaha Sada ritual. The research method used a descriptive qualitative approach with literature review and document analysis. The results indicate that Sipaha Sada functions as a spiritual ceremony commemorating the birth of Simarimbulu Bosi, strengthening community solidarity, and preserving the Parmalim cultural identity. This ritual involves stages of fasting, eating bitter foods, gondang hasapi music, the tortor dance, and collective prayer, all of which have profound symbolic meaning. Despite facing the challenges of modernization and social stigma, the Parmalim community maintains this tradition as an expression of their faith and ethnic identity, demonstrating high cultural resilience in the face of changing times.
Keywords: Sipaha Sada, Ugamo Malim, Toba Batak, New Year's ritual, local beliefs
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jefri Harniko Pasaribu H, Putri Gracea Batubara, Trynanda Sianipar, Doan Yohannes Manullang, Abel Rotua Tambunan, Tomson Sibarani
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