01/06/2022
CULTURE & TRADITIONS.... Duarato Traditional Village is located in Duarato Village, Lamaknen District, Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
In this traditional village there are 12 tribes with 7 traditional houses in it, who have close kinship with the tribes of Timor Leste.
Residents in Duarato Village area use the BUNAQ local language, and uniquely every traditional house in this Traditional Village is guarded by women, not men, due to the area's matrilineal culture.
Duarato traditional village has its own story from long ago. There is a special ritual place in it for offerings to the ancient kings/queens.
The distance from Atambua City is approximately 42 taking around 1 hour and 10 minutes.
The people in Duarato village use traditional woven cloth while participating in celebrations/thanksgiving, mourning and other rituals. As residents of Duarato village, besides being able to garden, they are also required to be able to weave, because weaving is a treasured skill inherited from their ancestors that must be preserved.
The motif that is often used by people from ancient times to the present is the "Sikait" motif, which means the relationship between relatives has not been broken from ancient times to the present. In addition to the Sikait motif, other motifs can be found in traditional houses such as: Gecko Motif, Chicken Motif, Snake Motif and also Star Motifs and Sun Motifs.
