Sarita

Sarita is a sacred cloth from Sulawesi. It is used by the Toraja people who live in the south of the island. Toraja are mostly christian but have local  animist beliefs called Anuk. A long and narrow textile, it is used during ceremonies, especially life enhancing ones due to its life, growth and fertility images. A sarita can be worn or displayed hung bannerlike.

A sarita is usually divided into rectangular sections containing motifs similar to the ones used in house carvings. The iconography includes livestock, agricultural plants and human figures. They are interspersed with larger design elements, mostly leaves, spiral shapes and crosses which represent buffaloes locking horns. This piece has tassels on one end.

Indian imported plain weave cotton, painted with natural dyes.