In pictures: A rare look into Amazon tribe's funeral rites

Numerous tribes live in Xingu Indigenous Park, a national park in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. They are united by the threat posed by climate change — and by the ruthless policies of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has protected and promoted the expansion of loggers, farmers, gold prospectors and cattle breeders into the tribal areas.

Some 13% of Brazil's national territory is inhabited by Indigenous peoples and was previously protected. This not only ensured the survival of the Indigenous peoples, but also that of the rainforest they inhabit. But Bolsonaro wants to allow protected areas, like the Xingu National Park (left side, above) to be used for economic exploitation like farming.

The loss of their leader, Chief Aritana of the Yawalapiti people, to COVID-19 in August 2020 has devastated the tribes of the Xingu. The Kuarup ritual, which honors the memory of the deceased, brought together more than a thousand members of nine tribes in September of this year.

"We are not united today. The Xingu no longer has someone who can organize all the chiefs," said Tapi Yawalapiti, the son and likely successor of the late leader. Since the death of Chief Aritana, the Indigenous people have been without strong leadership — a particularly heavy blow in times of the coronavirus pandemic and political uncertainty.

The spirits of the dead were honored with painted tree trunks placed at the center of the circular village. The deceased tribal leader was one of 12 members of the community who died from COVID-19. All adults in the community have since been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The funeral ritual builds to its climax with a martial arts competition between warriors of the nine tribes. They first stomp around the central area of the village in a war-like dance before the actual wrestling match begins. The ritual fighting is about honoring the deceased chief, not about determining his successor.

For the fights, the Yawalapiti paint their bodies with black dye, made from the fruit of the jenipapo tree, as well as a bright red dye made from urucum seeds that are boiled to form a ball of paste, pictured above.

Contemporary sensibility mingles with tradition: The face paint of a boy participating in the Kuarup ritual was reminiscent of Batman's archenemy, the Joker. It was paired with a political message on his chest: "Bolsonaro out."

Another part of the funeral ritual is a communal feast. Freshly caught fish is cooked over a large fire and eaten together with a flat cake of cassava prepared by the women of the village.

Fish, the main source of protein for the tribes, is essential for their survival. The men complain that fish are less abundant each year, due in part to pesticide sprayed from airplanes that pollutes the headwaters of the Xingu River. In addition, the river's level continues to drop as soy farmers increasingly tap into the water for their fields, anthropologist Claudia Franco told Reuters.

"Our main challenge is to come together again to save our lands," said Tapi Yawalapiti, son of the late chief. He stressed that the increasing destruction of the Xingu lands must be stopped, and the rich biodiversity preserved for future generations.