Japarra and Japalinga (Moon and Stars)

Japarra and Japalinga feature heavily in ceremonial representations on the Tiwi Islands. Japara (the moon) is a major signifier of season and the timing of the kulama ceremony, the coming of age ceremony that is held at the end of the wet season when a ring apears around the moon. Japalinga (stars) are usually represented by ochre dots and commonly appear in various forms of jilamara – body paint designs that the Tiwi apply to each other for ceremony and yoyi (dance).