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The Ngäbe Buglé culture of the Besikó District in Panama preserves an elaborate system of funerary beliefs that reflects their profound worldview and connection to the natural environment. This study, based on collaborative ethnography, describes how mortuary practices, from body preparation to burial, adhere to specific norms that regulate contact with the corpse, the ritual use of plants, and the importance of spiritual purification through ceremonies and traditional beverages such as cacao. It highlights how these practices protect both the living and the dead, maintaining the spiritual balance of the community. The article also compares these traditions with those of other Indigenous peoples in Latin America, revealing a shared symbolic pattern that highlights the universality of the sacred treatment of death in indigenous cultures. Preserving this intangible heritage is crucial in the face of the threats of cultural homogenization imposed by globalization.
Este obra está bajo una licencia de Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional.
