Beyond the Peculiar Rituals: Living with Their Dead, The Toraja People of Indonesia
Living with Their Dead, The Toraja People of Indonesia
National Geographic explores how Torajan corpses remain part of the family.
GRAPHIC VIDEO: Viewer discretion is advised
The world is full of peculiar and unique rituals stemming from cultural beliefs and traditions, some of which are still practiced today. Although at times they can be hard to fathom, it’s just common practice to the Toraja people and many need to abide by it. A taboo matter to some, can be a heroic or religious practice to others.
One such ritual, or should I say ‘worldly experience’, is the Indonesian practice of living with their dead loved ones and fellow villagers. The Toraja have their loved ones exhumed, mummified, adorned with special garments and have them live side by side with them. The dead are treated as if they are still alive, until their family members are able to provide them with costly and lavish funerals.
To the Toraja people, death is the main concern and funerals take priority over everything else. It can take weeks or years after a person’s death before they are buried, and during that time they are given food and water regularly and are regarded as part of their family’s daily life. The deceased is not regarded as dead but referred to as ‘makula’, an ailing person.
The funeral, is called Rambu Solo, and can take up to days or weeks, involves the entire village and usually happens in August or September each year. The festivities include prayers, dancing, singing, mourning, sacrifice of water buffalo(s) and cockfights. And could range in cost from $50,000 to as much as $500,000.
On the funeral day, the body is brought to its final resting place and the deceased is buried in a tomb carved into a cliff, as high as 100 feet above the ground. One to three years after the burial, the family go to the grave of their loved one and tidy up the mummified body and the tomb. And for those who have been dead for a decade or longer, the bodies are removed from their crypts, cleaned of any insects, changed into a clean set of clothes and the whole body is wiped, sprayed and put back into their tombs.
Family tradition and generations are always connected and remembered thanks to the Toraja people’s idea of death and their great regard for it.
Dekra Abdo
A self-confessed word-worm. My love for reading, writing and world cultures has taken me to many travel destinations. Let me hear your comments on my blog.