The majority of the people living in Indonesia are Muslims. But the Toraja tribe living in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi region belongs to the Christian religion. This tribe has such a belief that it gives you goosebumps. This tribe lives with their dead.
According to many beliefs and cultures, the burial of the dead is done in different ways. In our culture, death means the last journey of the deceased and his departure from us. But the situation is different in the Toraja tribe. The dead pretend to be alive and carry the dead out of the grave, dressed and decorated. This tradition, which is quite frightening for Western culture, is a sacred ritual for them.
How is a Funeral Performed in the Toraja Tribe?
When a member of this tribe dies, his body is kept at home for a while. The expected place during this waiting period varies according to the financial situation of the family. If his financial situation is moderate, he is kept in the house. The rich are kept in private funeral homes.
The waiting period is made until the family members feel ready to leave the deceased person. The funeral is held whenever people feel ready. But they continue to live with the dead until the ceremony takes place. The tribe, who do not want to accept that the person is dead, believes that their souls still exist in them. So they even feed them. In order to prevent the body from decaying during the process of living with the dead, some chemicals are applied to the body and mummification is performed. It is believed that this procedure will bring luck to the family of the deceased.
In the tribe, the burial is also carried out in a celebratory atmosphere. Sacrifices are made for the deceased, and a fun ceremony is held. In this way, it is believed that the soul of the deceased will find peace.
After the funeral ceremony, the dead are regularly exhumed after they are buried. The dead are dressed in new clothes. In the village, the families loved by the person are visited and the dead are toured. After this process is finished, they are put back into the coffin and placed in specially made graves. When the deceased is placed in the grave, they are placed with their loved ones.
