Simanindo
Simanindo is a living museum of the Batak ethnic group, located on the island of Samosir, showcasing their traditions, lifestyle, beliefs, and customs. The traditional Toba Batak house is called a “jabu” or “rumah bolon.” In front of each house, along a paved area, are the rice granaries, called “sopo,” which are almost the same size as the house itself and were used to store rice, but could also serve as additional bedrooms. The paved area between them is the “alaman,” where village ceremonies are held or where rice is spread out to dry. The largest and most prominent house is the communal meeting hall, called the “bale,” and the chief's house, distinguished by the intricate decorative drawings of flowers and foliage in red, white, and black on its gable. The three colors represent the three spheres of the cosmos: red symbolizes the human world, white, made of chalk, represents good spirits, and black, made of charcoal, represents the underworld. An excellent example is the house of Chief Raja Sidauruk in Simanindo, now a museum, where sigalegale puppet performances are held.
