Xingu Indian Ceremony 

Villas Boas Brothers

This Xingu Indian ceremony is a reenactment of the Tauarauanã (Tawarawana) ceremony first documented by the Villas Boas brothers (Orlando, Claudio, and Leonardo) and first photographed by W. Jesco von Puttkamer. The agitated dancing during the Tauarauanã ceremony is believed to invoke animal spirits that protect the living. Like most Amazonian natives, the Xinguanos are animists and believe that beneficial animal spirits can be used to protect one from evil animal spirits. The ceremony of Tauarauanã is practiced by several different Xinguano people, including the Kamayura and Trumai tribes.