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Xingu Flute Ritual
Indigenous Rite of Passage
Various tribes located in the Xingu River area practice a ritual called the
"Ritual of the Flutes." The actual ritual varies from tribe to tribe, but
the instruments are the same: giant flutes that measure up to three meters
in length. Although men exclusively play these large flutes, females are
often involved in the ritual. Most commonly a girl will accompany each flute
player by placing her hand on his shoulder and will be led by him during the
ritual. Sometimes the girl will have her hair cover her eyes, preventing her
from seeing, and the ritual becomes a rite of passage for the pubescent
girl. Interestingly, no one tribe has a monopoly on this flute ritual and
many different tribes have adopted its practice despite speaking different
languages and having different ethnic backgrounds.
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