Just the other day, the Torajan community, an ethnic group from the mountains of South Sulawesi in Indonesia, began a holiday, the name of which translates as "Corpse Cleaning Ceremony". On the days of this holiday, community members exhume the bodies of their relatives, carry out a cleaning procedure and change into new fashionable clothes, and then put on public display.
The whole family is assembled
This strange ritual is over 100 years old. This is how Torajan representatives show respect for their deceased relatives. The Ma'nene ritual is performed every three years.
Long time no see!
It should be noted that the funeral is one of the most important rituals in the life of this people. Most Torajan save money throughout their lives to provide a decent burial for themselves and their family members. It often happens that a funeral is arranged a few weeks, or even several years after a person's death, when the necessary amount of money has been accumulated.
The uniform must always be in order!
Promotional video:
The body of a deceased person is wrapped in several layers of cloth to prevent decay. After that, the corpse is buried. However, on the day of the funeral, Sulawesi residents see the body of a relative not for the last time. Every three years, she dug up the bodies of her relatives to pay tribute to them.
All the best for the dead
During the Ma'nene festival, people repair the coffins to maintain a corpse-friendly environment. It should be noted that in the Torajan belief system, death is not the end of life, but just another step in spiritual development.
The dead people in this region of Indonesia are seen off on their last journey cheerfully and fervently, however, several years after death.