Telingaan Aruu, the Belief of Dayak Ethnic.


Telingaan aruu, which means long ears, is a hereditary tradition, both by men and women of the Dayak ethnic. The installation of earrings is done from infancy, beginning with the ritual called nucuk penikng or piercing the ears. But of course earrings when babies are different from adult earrings.

How can the ears extend? The process of piercing as usual, using a needle. The initial piercing hole is only given a decoration in the form of thread as a substitute for earrings.

The tradition of extending the earlobe is aimed at showing noble identity and a symbol of beauty. While the Iban Dayak ethnic believes that these earplugs are a form of exercise of patience and endurance of suffering and pain.

For Dayak women, ear lobes are allowed to extend to the extent of the chest, while men should not be more than shoulder. In the Iban Dayak tribe, the ear hole is more like the letter O, not elongated. This elongated earlobe can shorten after tens of years without using hisang kavaat.

Observers of the Dayak tribe also say this tradition is at a critical stage. The piercing (piercing) is still done, but not by telingaan aruu. The current of modernization is the cause of the threat of extinction of this Dayak cultural identity. In addition, the younger generation of Dayaks prefers jewelery that resembles long ears complete with hisang kavaat.

After the wound is cured, the thread is replaced by spun cork wood, which is replaced once a week with a larger one. This spin will expand when exposed to water, so that the hole for the earrings is enlarged.


The enlarged hole was then hung with copper earrings, called belaong. Continuous added weight and amount causes the earlobe to spread until it touches the shoulder. The addition of earrings is done to adjust age and social status.

The types of earrings in this tradition are generally divided into two, namely hisang semhaa and hisang kavaat. Hisang semhaa is placed around the ear lobe, while hisang kavaat is used on the ear lobe.


Not all Dayak ethnic groups in Kalimantan do this, only a few ethnic groups, including Dayak Kenyah, Kayaan, Iban, and Taman. However, this tradition is no longer or rarely done, especially for the younger generation of Dayaks even though they live in the interior. There are only a few people from the older generation who still seem to hold fast to the tradition.

Observers of the Dayak tribe also say this tradition is at a critical stage. The piercing is still done, but not by telingaan aruu. The current of modernization is the cause of the threat of extinction of this Dayak cultural identity. In addition, the younger generation of Dayaks prefers jewelery that resembles long ears complete with hisang kavaat.


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