Indonesia - Sulawesi
Tana Toraja - Funeral Ceremony
When approximate amounts of funds have been pledged by members of the family of the deceased person to ascertain that a funeral ceremony can be held. Toraja Funeral Ceremonies are not only sad events, but are occasions for entire families to gather from around the globe, and for villagers to participate in communal events, renewing relationships and reconfirming beliefs and traditions in the way of the ancestors. The more impressive step is the sacrifice of the cattle for their meat to be distributed for meals to the guests attending the ceremony that lasts for over a week. This happens very fast and sure, where the buffalo is slaughtered and collapses immediately.
Warning: some pictures of the funeral are brutal and bloody.
BEST TIME to VISIT TANA TORAJA
BEST TIME to TRAVEL to SULAWESI
From June to October
Preparing funeral in a village
Preparing funeral in a village : shelter for the family
funeral ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
arriving at the Funeral Ceremony
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Arrival of guests
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Guests
Guests
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Buffalo will be slaughtered in few minutes and eaten by guests
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Temporary shelters are built for the family
Torajan Funeral Ceremony. Hostess with traditional costume
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Hundred of people are invited for the ceremony which lasts few days.
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Young girls with traditional costume and family members behind
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Pigs are brought as presents for the family, and eaten
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Bringing Food and drinks
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Guests give pigs and buffalos to the family
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Pigs are given to the family and eaten
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Pigs are offered to the family
arriving at the Funeral Ceremony
Torajan Funeral Ceremony - Young girls
Kitchen - preparing meal
Toraja Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony
Funeral Ceremony : after ..
in cities, there is no space for ceremonies and the buffalo is slaughtered on the side of the road