4 Torajan Death Rituals That Are Out of The World

Torajans keep the bodies of their loved ones at home for months, and sometimes even up to 30 years, considering them 'sick' rather than 'dead' until the funeral. They offer daily food, water, and cigarettes as they prepare for the funeral.

Every August, during the Ma'Nene ceremony, Torajans exhume the corpses of their relatives and dress them in new clothes. This ritual often includes taking fresh family portraits with their deceased loved ones.

Torajans believe the dead never truly leave. They create intricate wooden effigies of their loved ones, which are regarded as guardians of tombs and protectors of the living.

Torajan funerals are considered joyous celebrations, featuring elaborate rituals and significant animal sacrifices. A three-day funeral can require at least seven buffaloes, an expense equivalent to three to four houses in Toraja.