Funeral Customs of the

People of Tana Toraja

Warning-Graphic Content

The Tana Toraja is a regency of

South Sulawesi in Indonesia. It
is a beautiful, mountainous
region that is home to an
indigenous group knows as the
Torajans.
There are approximately
450,000 Toraja living in the
region. Most are Christian,
others are Muslim, and a
minority still retain local beliefs
known as Aluk To Dolo Way of
the Ancestors.

http://toraja.tours/sulawesiisland.php

Iswahyuni/peepindonesia.c
om

Tongkonans, traditional ancestral homes.

Even with the different religions, traditional Toraja funeral customs are usually
followed. The Toraja have some of the most complex funeral traditions in the
world. More money is spent on funerals than any other event in their lives.

Due to the expense and time required

to plan such an elaborate funeral, the
funeral ceremony may not be held for
weeks, months, or even years after the
death ofthe person. During this time,
the deceased is not buried, but
embalmed and is placed in a traditional
house under the same roof with his or
her family.
http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/torajapeople-and-most-complex-funeral-rituals-world-001268?
page=0%2C1

The person isnt referred to as dead but

as to makala (a sick person) or to
mama (a person who is asleep). The
deceased person is treated as if alive
and is brought meals, is taken out, and
is included in family life.
The Torajans traditionally believe that
death is not a sudden event, but a
gradual process towards Puya (the
land of souls, or afterlife). The soul of
the deceased is thought to linger until
the funeral ceremony is completed.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/indonesia_corpseliveswithfamily

The funeral ritual is the most

elaborate and expensive event in
Toraja society. The more wealthy
the individual the more involved the
funeral. In aluk religion only nobles
have a right to an expensive death
feast, which is usually attended by
thousands and lasts for several
days.
http://toraja.tours/toraja-south-sulawesi.php

A ceremonial site, called rante, is

usually prepared in a grassy field.
Family members will make shelters
for audiences, rice barns, and other
ceremonial funeral structures.
Flute music, funeral chants, songs
and poems, and crying and wailing
are traditional Toraja expressions of
grief with the exceptions of funerals
for young children or low-status
adults.

http://toraja.tours/toraja-south-sulawesi.php

An important part of the funeral ceremony is the

slaughtering of water buffaloes and pigs. Torajans
believe that the deceased need the buffalo to make
the journey to Puya. They believe the deceased
will live peacefully afterwards, continuing to herd
the buffaloes that come to join them. They believe
the more animals slaughtered the quicker their
journey will be. Before the animals are slaughtered
the animals take part in trials of strength known as
tedong silaga.

ps://travelswithanineyearold.wordpress.com

After the sacrifice the meat is

distributed to the funeral
visitors according to rank, and
the spirit of the deceased is
also entitled to a portion of
meat. The horns are placed in https://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_marion/16075501817
front of the house of the kin.

For burial the coffin may be laid

in a cave, or in a stone grave
carved out of a rocky cliff, or
hung off a cliff. The wealthy
are often buried in a stone
grave carved out of a rock cliff.
It can be large enough to
accommodate several coffins.
It may take many months to
hand carve the tomb.
http://asiaforvisitors.com/indonesia/sulawesi/tana-toraja/graves/index.php

tp://asiaforvisitors.com/indonesia/sulawesi/tana-toraja/graves/index.php Setiawandanu.wordpress.com

After the burial, a wood

carved effigy called a tau
tau is placed in the
balcony of the tomb to
represent the dead and
watch over the remains.
Some tau tau effigies are
very elaborate and are
carved to look just like the
deceased person.

p://historiesofthingstocome.blogspot.com/2014/10/counting-down-to-halloween-death-rites.html

http://legacy.sweetmarias.com/library/node/713

Unfortunately, so many tau tau

effigies have been stolen to be
sold to tourists that some people
have started to keep them in their
homes.

One of the most interesting customs of

the Toraja is a ritual called Ma Nene
(the Ceremony of Cleaning Corpses).
The ceremony takes place each year in
August. The Torajan believe the
festival reminds them to show love for
their ancestors. Even though many of
the Torjans believe in God, they also
believe in worship of the soul of the
dead body.

http://www.theplaidzebra.com/people-of-toraja-indonesia-unearth-corpses

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/mummies-newwardrobe-part-ma-nene-ritual-indonesia-gallery1.1143923?pmSlide=1.1143915

The dead are exhumed to be washed, groomed and dressed in new clothes.
The mummies are then walked around the village by following a path of
straight lines. According to the myth, these lines are connected with
Hyang, a spiritual entity with supernatural power. This entity only moves
in straight lines, so the soul of the deceased body must follow the path of
Hyang.

http://www.topfivebuzz.com/weird-manene-ritual-in-indonesia-with-dead-bodies

Content Sources

http://toraja.tours/toraja-south-sulawesi.php
http://
www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/toraja-people-and-m
ost-complex-funeral-rituals-world-001268?page=0%2C1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toraja
http://
video.nationalgeographic.com/video/magazine/160311-ngm-indones
ian-death-ritual?source=relatedvideo
https://
www.ted.com/talks/kelli_swazey_life_that_doesn_t_end_with_deat
h?language=en
http://
video.nationalgeographic.com/video/indonesia_corpseliveswithfami
ly