Quarup or Kuarup (which usually honours not only the deceased "noble" man or woman, but also dead "commoners") as the moment when the souls of those who died during the period between one celebration and the next finally leave for the eternal village of the dead. In Quarup, each honouree is represented by a tree trunk (also called quarup) of about 1.60 metres height. The quarups are firmly planted on the floor of the village, and painted and decorated by the families of the dead. In the presence of the quarups, Indians weep, sing, dance and fight, with the sound of maracas, an instrument made from gourd with mystical goals. The Kuarup is an inter-village ceremony, with one village hosting as many as 7 or 8 others, and since usually more than half the persona in a village attend a Kuarup, the host village can expect the arrival of several hundred visitors. The host must provide food and drink for their guests during the two days of the ceremony, planning for a Kuarup begins months in advance. At times outsiders are allowed to participate, but not always, as it depends on the approval of the tribal elders.
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