Several of our friends had their tooth filing (potong gigi) ceremony yesterday. Kristi, Kenan, and I went. It's been a bit of a bummer because the ceremonies have been going on for about 10 days, which means not many of our friends have time for anything... except ceremonies. We were excited though, because we got our old camera to work (kind of), so you get to see some pictures.
The tooth filing ceremony can happen anytime after a person is about 17 years old. Some people will tell you that the sharp teeth are filed down because those teeth make people look more like an evil spirit. Others say it is to perfect and purify a person's soul for their next life. Maybe both are the correct answer... The ceremony can get very expensive, so if a person cannot afford it during their lifetime, the priest will file their teeth just before they are cremated.
I'm not sure exactly why the guys have to dress up and put on makeup. But everyone just said it has to be done that way (it is the same for weddings and other ceremonies).
Although this is a time of pride for parents as they see their children move into adulthood with this ceremony, it is also a time of great fear. Just after the teeth are filed, the guys drink from a young coconut shell. Some friends were telling me that this is the most opportune time to practice black magic on a person. It is not very expensive to place a curse on the drink in the coconut shell.
Pongot is the guy on the right, and I have never seen him look serious or scared before, but he looked terrified just as his teeth were about to be filed...
