Man traded his unfaithful wife for money and a cow (3 photos + 1 video)

A unique tolaka ritual: how an Indonesian couple divorced peacefully, and a cow became a symbol of reconciliation.





In southern Indonesia, a man who caught his wife cheating on him decided not to seek revenge but to give her to her lover, according to a centuries-old tribal custom. He received a cow, some money, and, most importantly, peace of mind.

According to local publication Tribunnews Sultra, the man, known as SRX, from the village of Puudombi in Konawe Province, had been married to his wife, NS, for five years. They belong to the Tolaki people, known for their traditional dress and deeply held values ​​of peace and unity.

In September, the man caught his wife with another man at a boarding house. He immediately reported the incident to the police, providing evidence, and the couple declared their love. It later emerged that the lover worked for a mining company.

To resolve the conflict without controversy, SRH approached local elders and requested the Mowea Sarapu ceremony, a traditional Tolaki ritual that literally means "to let go and make peace."

This long-standing ritual is intended to help spouses move past betrayal, restore peace, and maintain dignity. In front of elders, relatives, and village residents, SRH and NS sat side by side, conversed, and asked for each other's forgiveness.



In a video that quickly went viral, a tearful man can be seen hugging his wife's shoulder and saying, "Please take care of her. Never hurt her. She was never happy with me."

According to tradition, a woman's new husband must compensate her ex-husband. In this case, she received a cow, a piece of traditional cloth, a copper vessel, and five million rupees (approximately $300).



After the ceremony, the village headman, Safrudin, confirmed that the marriage was officially dissolved: "Both families accepted the outcome as fate and an important lesson. I hope everyone will emerge stronger from this."

According to Tolaka customary law, a woman can undergo the Mowea Sarapu ritual more than once, but repeating it is considered shameful and brings moral condemnation for her and her family.

Thus, in Tolaka culture, even such a painful situation as infidelity can become a path to peace, balance, and a new beginning—with the cow as a symbol of restored balance.