Ikipalin: The Dani Finger Amputation Ritual

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The experience of grief is an intensely physical one; grief is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, digestive disruptions and cardiac problems.  There are cultural practices around the world that believe intentional physical pain is an important part of expressing the emotional pain of grief and an essential part of the mourning process.

The Dani tribe, who live in a town called Wamena in the Cyclops Mountains of western New Guinea, traditionally performed a finger cutting ritual to express the physical pain of grief. Though the practice is now rare and in fact officially banned, ikipalin is a finger amputation ritual traditionally carried out by females of the tribe after the death of a loved one. Ikipalin symbolizes the pain of mourning and is performed with or without tools.

Before amputation, a string is tied around the upper half of the finger for 30 minutes, to cut off circulation and numb the finger before cutting it. After the finger is amputated, open sores are dressed with leaves treated with traditional herbs, in order to stem bleeding, prevent infection and to aid in the formation of new callouses on the tip of the remaining part of the finger. It is generally a close family member who performs the amputation.

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For the Dani, fingers symbolize harmony, unity and strength. Fingers, despite their different lengths, work together cooperatively to perform tasks. In this way, fingers, in the Dani culture and belief system, function like a family. According to the Jakarta Post, the Dani believe misfortune due to the death of a family member can be eliminated through finger amputation. The practice is also viewed as a sacrifice to appease spirits. If the dead person was a powerful figure, finger cutting would drive away the equally powerful spirit that might linger posthumously. An alternative Dani mourning custom to ikipalin involved cutting off an ear.

The Dani also have a slightly less pain intensive manner of expressing grief through physical manifestation–smearing the body with ashes and clay and refraining from bathing for several weeks.