Aluk

Aluk refers to a traditional indigenous religious system associated with certain Dayak communities in western and central Borneo (Kalimantan). In anthropological writing, it is described as a holistic system of belief and practice that organizes ritual life, moral norms, and social relations within the broader framework of adat, or customary law. The term is used in regional contexts to describe related practices that vary by locality.

Core elements of Aluk typically include veneration of ancestors and nature spirits, a recognition of a supreme creator, and a calendar of ceremonies tied to agricultural cycles, harvests, and rites of passage. Ritual specialists or shamans act as mediators between the human community and the spirit world, performing offerings, divination, and healing rites. Sacred places often include ancestral shrines, ceremonial houses, and designated sites for communal rituals.

Rites are conducted by communities led by adat chiefs or spiritual leaders, with guidance on proper conduct, taboos, and ceremonial procedure. Daily life is embedded with customs governing marriage, property, mourning, and dispute resolution, reflecting the integrative character of Aluk as both belief and social regulation.

Historical contact and conversion have shaped Aluk in many regions. Since the 19th century, Christian and Muslim influences have led to changes in practice, with some communities abandoning or transforming certain rites while others maintain syncretic forms. Scholars study Aluk to understand indigenous religious diversity, social cohesion, and environmental stewardship within Dayak societies.

See also Adat, Dayak people, Kalimantan.