Batak burial traditions are very rich and complex. Immediately after death various ritual actions are performed to make the "begu" understand that from now on its world is separate from that of its kin. Symbolically this is done by reversing the mat on which the corpse is laid out so that the body lies with its head at the foot of the mat. Thumbs and toes respectively are tied together and the body is rubbed all over with camphor and its orifices stopped with camphor, then it is wrapped in a white cotton cloth. During this "perumah begu" ceremony a "guru sibaso" declares to the "begu" of the deceased that it is definitely dead and must take leave of its relatives.