Indonesia Toraja
Toraja tribe Indonesia death: Somewhere to bury, somewhere to burn and somewhere to leave the dead body in an open place. In every country of the world, the last rites are performed in different ways after death. While in Hinduism the dead body is burnt, Muslims bury their dead relatives. Often people feel sad about separation from their close ones after their death. But this is not the case in Indonesia, because after the death of their relatives, people there keep them in their house instead of burying or burning them. These people not only live with the dead body, but also talk to it every day.
Toraja of Indonesia
In Tana Toraja, Indonesia, dead bodies are mummified and kept in homes before cremation. People here keep the dead bodies at home until money is collected for the last rites or a special ceremony is organised. In Toraja, Indonesia, bodies are mummified and participate in daily activities with family members such as feeding and clothing them.
Unique funeral tradition
The Toraja people of Indonesia have a very unique funeral tradition, in which death is not considered the end of life, but a part of the spiritual journey. They mummify the bodies and keep them at home and care for them regularly until a large and expensive funeral ceremony (rambu solo) is conducted.
What is Torajan Manen Ceremony?
In Toraja, after the death of a person, a funeral ceremony is held every three years in August, which is called Manen. All the family members participate in it and it is a happy occasion for them, which they celebrate like a festival. This is because they get a chance to see their dead relatives again. In Toraja, a separate place is made for the dead bodies and the dead bodies are taken out and dried in the sun. Then the dead body is dressed in new clothes and all the family members also get photographed with it. After this the dead body is kept back in the box.
Funeral celebration is expensive
Among the Torajan people, after death a buffalo or a chicken has to be sacrificed in honor of the deceased. This ritual is very expensive and one cannot bid farewell to one’s dead without a formal farewell. For this reason, people who do not have proper arrangements or money get delayed in burying their relatives. Sometimes it takes several days, months or even years to prepare for this festival. In such a situation, till then they stay in the house with his dead body.
During this time, the body is kept in a coffin at home and considered “sick” or “resting”. A lot of people gather in this festival which takes place every three years. After this grand ceremony is over, the deceased is again respectfully placed in the coffin.
(Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.)