Tiwah Ceremony

In the Kaharingan faith, particularly during death rituals such as the Tiwah ceremony, the act of biting a chicken has profound meaning and purpose. This ritual is not simply a physical act, but part of a sacred procession that symbolizes respect and sacrifice to ancestral spirits and gods. Here are some of the main purposes of the chicken biting ritual: Purification and sacrifice. The chicken serves as a symbol of sacrifice and an intermediary to purify or cleanse the deceased's spirit so it can reach the afterlife (Lewu Tatau).