Torajan funerals

 Indonesia 2004  Comments Off on Torajan funerals
May 282004
 

Torajan funerals can be large affairs. They can take upto a year to plan and involve hundreds of guests.

The grandchildren lead a procession of mourners.

Pigs waiting to be slaughtered to feed guests.

Remains of a sacrificed buffalo.

Water buffalo being traded in the market, mainly for funerals. In a country where the average monthly wage is 300-500,000 Rp, a water buffalo is worth 8 – 15 million. At the funeral I attended there were a dozen buffalo and 200 pigs slaughtered.

 Posted by at 3:02 pm

Toraja Tau Tau

 Indonesia 2004  Comments Off on Toraja Tau Tau
May 272004
 

Outside the limestone caves where their dead are buried are lifesize wooden effigies of them. Very very spooky.

 Posted by at 3:00 pm

Toraja burial sites

 Indonesia 2004  Comments Off on Toraja burial sites
May 262004
 

Traditionally the Torajans buried their dead in coffins hanging from or inside limestone cliffs. The dead were buried with a myriad of possessions to take with them into the afterlife. This lead to grave plundering and hence the Torajans started to bury their dead in inaccessible places.

 Posted by at 2:56 pm