Karo people The Karo people, who live in the Southern Omo Zone or Omo Valley, are a small group only about 1000 people. The Karo are considered the master of body painting in which they engage when preparing for a dance feast or celebration. They are physically attractive because of their elaborate body decoration and modification. This is an elaborate process which ranges from fine and elaborate details to rough, but striking paintings traced with the palms or fingers. The most beautiful expression is in the facial and chest paintings that combine white (chalk), black coal, yellow, Ochre, and red Minerals, Suri, Karo and Nyangtom women apply Ornamental Scarification, on abdomen, arms and back, which enhance their beauty in the eyes of man. The Karo people speak the Karo language, a language related to, but not mutually intelligible with, other Batak languages, in addition to Indonesian. These Karo people are divided up into clans or Merga. The Karo Merga are Ginting, Karo-Karo, Perangin-Angin, Sembiring and Tarigan, these Merga are then divided up into families. In 13th to 16th century, the Karo people believed has established Aru Kingdom (also spelled Haru), located in modern day Medan city and Deli Serdang Regency. It was one of the earliest kingdom in Sumatra.The population of Aru Kingdom adhered native animism, Hinduism and Islam. Islam slowly gained influence in coastal area since late 13th century. Despite among the earliest Sumatran kingdom that was exposed to Islam, the people of Aru kingdom remained predominantly pagan, especially those who inhabit interior region. The successor state of Aru Kingdom was the Sultanate of Deli, which demonstrate a mixed influences of Karo, Malay, Tamil and Aceh. Today, the religion of Karo people are mostly Christian, a religion brought to Sumatra in the 19th Century by missionaries. However, an increasing
Karo people The Karo people, who live in the Southern Omo Zone or Omo Valley, are a small group only about 1000 people. The Karo are considered the master of body painting in which they engage when preparing for a dance feast or celebration. They are physically attractive because of their elaborate body decoration and