Tribe brings back dead with "clothing" ritual

[icymist]

Mon Feb 1, 3:02 PM


By Michaela Cabrera

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MANILA (Reuters) - Members of the Hanunuo Mangyan tribe in the Philippines do not leave their dead in the grave for long, digging up the remains of loved ones in an unusual revival ritual that itself is slowly dying out.


The "kutkot" ritual is a tradition of bringing the dead back to life. A Filipino word for "scratch" or "unearth," it entails dressing up the remains of the dead in cloth so that they take on a human form again.


Many of the nearly 100 indigenous peoples' groups across the archipelago hold rituals for the dead, but very few among the 25,000 Hanunuo Mangyans remaining in the central island of Mindoro still practice kutkot, which has fallen victim to modern influences.


For some, kutkot is an obligation that tribal members must perform, in keeping with clan practice or honoring a dead relative's request.
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