Dark Secrets/Fascinating Death Rituals Of The Torajans Of Indonesia

A Close Up Of A Deceased Family Member

Image Source / All That's InterestingThe Torajans of Indonesia are known for their death rituals, which involve celebrating the dead by preserving them and digging up relatives to re-dress them, clean them up and celebrate with them. Here is a close up of a Torajan who had been brought out of his grave.

The Corpses Are Cleaned

Image Source / All That's InterestingThe Torajans take a lot of time and care to clean the corpses of their loved ones after exhuming their body. They use cloths to gently clean up the body and clothes of their loved one with great care and attention.

Caskets Are Carried In An Elaborate Ritual

Image Source / All That's InterestingThese celebratory death rituals also see caskets of dead loved ones being carried along roads and pathways, by all those who want to pay their respects and by loving family members. The carrying of the casket and journey of it is an important part of these rituals.

The Deceased Are Also Given New Clothes

Image Source / All That's InterestingWhen the caskets are opened, family members - often a group - will not only clean their deceased loved one, but they will also make sure to dress them in new, fresh clothes before the loved one is returned to their tomb.

The Deceased Can Be Posed For Photographs

Image Source / All That's InterestingAnother aspect of the death ritual is for deceased loved ones to be brought out of their graves so that family members can spend time with them. This includes living loved ones posing for photographs with their ancestors, some of which have mummified.

Some Tombs Are Actually Built Into The Side Of Cliffs

Image Source / All That's InterestingRather than a more traditional gravesite like on a flat plot of land, some Torajans are actually buried in tombs which are dug into the sides of cliffs. This means that, for the death rituals, the coffins have to be lowered down from vertical cliff sides.

The Buffalo Horn Symbolism

Image Source / All That's InterestingIn this culture, buffalo horns are a common feature outside of houses in the community. The more buffalo horns that are attached to the front of a house, the bigger the status that family has - and, as you can see, this one has quite a lot!

Relatives Grab As Many Photos As They Can

Image Source / All That's InterestingThis is a time for celebration and for taking photos of ancestors during this time that they're out of their coffins, cleaned and groomed. Family members may take photos with their relatives, or take snaps only of their relatives during this funeral ritual.

Some Of The Deceased Have Photos Of Them Placed Next To Their Head

Image Source / All That's InterestingIn further celebration of their ancestors' lives, family members will place a photograph of the deceased next to their head, the photo taken from when they were alive. This can be placed in the casket with them alongside their body, as shown with this deceased Torajan.

The Deceased May Also Be Offered Food And Drink

Image Source / All That's InterestingAs part of the funeral ritual and celebration, deceased relatives once taken out of their coffin and placed in the social setting, may also be offered food and drink as a gesture from loved ones. They may also be offered cigarettes, too.

The Bodies Are Cleaned And Given New Clothes

Image Source / All That's InterestingIt's customary for a completely new and fresh set of clothes to be given to the deceased as well as having their bodies cleaned up. Older clothes won't simply be cleaned and left on. Here, this relative has been dead for 30 years and is seen being cleaned by a loved one.

Relatives May Also Touch The Deceased In Respect

Image Source / All That's InterestingHere you can see a loved one touching the face of his dead relative after he has been taken from his crypt, and also seen here with a photograph from when he was alive. Relatives may spend time laying hands on their relatives as a sign of love and respect and taking this opportunity while the body is out of the grave.

Sometimes Bodies Will Be Brought Out Together

Image Source / All That's InterestingDuring this funeral ritual, it's not one body of a relative brought out at a time. Often, more than one can be brought out - especially if they were a couple - to be cleaned, groomed and celebrated together. Here the bodies of two family members stand together after being displayed by relatives.

The Celebrations Include The Impact Dead Relatives Have Had

Image Source / All That's InterestingWhen the deceased family members' mummified remains are brought out, cleaned and dressed, part of the celebration is to remember the impact these relatives have had on the living, and live on in their loved ones memories.

Bodies May Be Lain Out Side By Side

Image Source / All That's InterestingMore than one family member can be taken from their tomb and lain out in the same celebratory funeral ritual. Here shown side by side, these two mummies are dressed and cleaned, with fresh flowers and each displaying their portraits from life.

Some Relatives May Also Be Dressed In Uniforms

Image Source / All That's InterestingThis deceased relative on the left was an army veteran, so when his family members retrieved his body from his crypt to groom and redress, he was dressed in army uniform in respect of his service. Alongside him is a another deceased family member for the funeral ritual.

Some Exhumed Bodies Are Close Relatives

Image Source / All That's InterestingThe ages of the deceased and how long they have been dead can all vary, and you may have very young loved ones seeing the bodies of their great ancestors, whereas some may be close relatives. Here, this is the mummified body of this man's grandfather.

The Mummified Bodies Can Also Stand And Hold Things

Image Source / All That's InterestingAs shown in this photo, the exhumed bodies aren't always simply displayed lying down in their caskets. They can be made to stand, but also be made to hold things, like these fresh flowers, as shown with the grandparents of this man grooming them for a family photo.

A Decade-Old Army Veteran

Image Source / All That's InterestingA closer look at the body of L Sarungu, the army veteran who was exhumed by his relatives. By this time, his corpse is a decade old, before being taken out of its tomb to be cleaned by his loved ones.

The Bodies Can Be Cuddled And Swarmed By Relatives

Image Source / All That's InterestingWhile the bodies are out displayed in the communal areas with families, after being cleaned and having their clothes restored and cared for, the bodies of deceased ancestors can be cuddled, touched and have family members flocking around them.

Bodies Can Be Posed For Huge Family Photos

Image Source / All That's InterestingPhotos of the deceased are a big deal during this funeral ritual, but it's also taken very seriously in terms of opportunities for huge family photos. Relatives can get together in big groups to pose with their deceased relatives, who have been propped to stand as they would in a family photo in life.

Not All Deceased Ancestors Still Look Like Themselves

Image Source / All That's InterestingAs you can see in most of the photos so far, a lot of the deceased relatives still have some recognisable facial features in their mummified state. But as seen in this photo, with relatives gathering around a few bodies, it may be that there is only a few bones or a skull left.

Dead Relatives Can Also Be Kept In The Home

Image Source / EscapeThe custom of the Toraja people is actually to keep their recently deceased relatives at home, displayed as normal on a bed or sitting down, until a time when they're officially buried. During this time the family members can spend time with their deceased relative around the home.

The Torajan People Believe The Soul Remains In The House After Death

Image Source / EscapeThe reason that this culture takes care of the dead in the home by still offering them food, drink, clothing and even cigarettes is because they believe the soul is still around after the body has passed. They also keep dried plants beside the bodies to mask the smell of the decay.

There's A Reason They Make Such Effort To Preserve The Bodies: Good Fortune

Image Source / EscapeThe community believes that good fortune can be brought by a well-preserved body, which is why they put so much effort and care into keeping their relatives' bodies in the best possible shape and keeping on top of it every year for the ritual.

Relatives Can Even Spend Time Outdoors With Their Deceased Loved Ones

Image Source / EscapeHere you can see a relative spending time with their loved one outdoors, as his exhumed body is placed in the sun and tended to with a cigarette and a glasses change. While this ritual may seem strange to other countries and cultures, the Torajans would be equally as shocked about retirement homes and having other people responsible for the graves of their relatives.

Bodies Can Also Include Those Of Babies And Children Who Have Passed

Image Source / EscapeAs seen here, it's not only the bodies of adult or elderly loved ones that are taken from their graves and cleaned. There are also bodies of babies and children who have passed. This ritual is a time of celebration rather than mourning the dead.

For Some Torajans, They Have Only Ever Seen Their Loved Ones Dead

Image Source / EscapeSome people of the community, like this young girl, may never have had the chance to meet their relatives while they were still alive. Here she gets to spend time with the sister she never met in life by holding her exhumed body.

There May Have Been A Lot Of Infant Death In The Community Due To Lack Of Proper Roads

Image Source / EscapeHere three cousins meet their infant relative who died 10 years prior due to an illness. The reason the baby died from sickness was because there were no proper roads at the time within the mountain area of Toraja, so the baby couldn't get to the hospital.

Tourists May Even Be Able To Witness The Ritual Taking Place

Image Source / EscapeThese days, with so much tourism about and more knowledge about the rituals becoming known outside of the community, tourists can actually mingle with the local people during the time these rituals take place - which also makes sense when it's a celebration and not a private family grieving process.