In the mountains of the south of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, Toraja people celebrate the death of their relatives with old rituals. They keep the body of the dead person until the "tomate" (funeral). They consider the deceased to be "makula" (sick) and they bring food and drink and talk with the dead person. When the family decides to celebrate the funeral they kill nine buffalos. (ARTICLE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND FRENCH ON REQUEST).
Tau-tau are the statues in wood that Toraja make of dead people.
Toraja people are famous around the world for their death rituals.
Oma died almost four years ago. Her body is still in her house. The family considers she is not dead. She is "makula" (a sick person). They are waiting to have money to pay for the buffalos that will be sacrificed during the funeral.
Oma died almost four years ago. Her body is still in her house. The family considers she is not dead. She is "makula" (a sick person). They are waiting to have money to pay for the buffalos that will be sacrificed during the funeral.
Oma died almost four years ago. Her body is still in her house. The family considers she is not dead. She is "makula" (a sick person). They are waiting to have money to pay for the buffalos that will be sacrificed during the funeral.
Oma died almost four years ago. Her body is still in her house. The family considers she is not dead. She is "makula" (a sick person). They are waiting to have money to pay for the buffalos that will be sacrificed during the funeral.
During the celebration of the funeral of Mrs Enny Anton, 54 years old, in Rantepao.
Funeral in Rantepao
During the celebration of the funeral of Mrs Enny Anton, 54 years old, in Rantepao.
Duning the celebration of the funeral of Mrs Enny Anton, 54 years old, in Rantepao.
During the celebration of the funeral of Mrs Enny Anton, 54 years old, in Rantepao.
Most of the Toraja are Christian. During the celebration of the funeral they kill and eat pork and buffalos.
Funeral in Rantepao.
Duning the celebration of the funeral of Mrs Enny Anton, 54 years old, in Rantepao.
During the celebration of the funeral of Mrs Enny Anton, 54 years old, in Rantepao.. Relatives take 'selfies' in front of the coffin.
Duning the celebration of the funeral of Mrs Enny Anton, 54 years old, in Rantepao.
During the funeral in Rantepao.
Oma died almost 4 years ago. Her body is still at home until the family get the money to celebate the funeral.
According to Animist belief, if a child dies before having its first teeth and is buried in a tree, the child would grew up with it.
Tau-tau are statues of people who died.
Lemo, Sulawesi.
A couple of days before the funeral of Andan's mother.
Londa (6km south of Rantepao) is an extensive burial cave at the base of a massive cliff face. The entrance to the cave is guarded by a balcony of 'tau tau'. Inside the cave is a collection of coffins, many of them rotted away, with the bones either scattered or heaped in piles.
Londa (6km south of Rantepao) is an extensive burial cave at the base of a massive cliff face. The entrance to the cave is guarded by a balcony of 'tau tau'. Inside the cave is a collection of coffins, many of them rotted away, with the bones either scattered or heaped in piles.
Feeding the buffalo a couple of months before the funeral for a mother and son in Pangala.
A father prepairs everything for the funeral of his wife and son that will be celebrated in July 6th. The mom passed away 8 moths ago and the son 2 months ago.
He and his mother will be buried on July, 6th in his town Pangala. He died two months ago. His mother 8 years ago. Their bodies will be in the house until the funeral.
Albino buffalos are the most prized in Toraja.
Kete Kesu, Tana Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia. About 5km from Rantepao, it is renowned for its woodcarving and traditional tongkonan and rice barns. The roof of the houses look like boats. And all of them placed from North to South .There are several legends about it. One of them says Toraja people came from the North by boat.
Funeral in Pangi, close to Rantepao.
Attending the funeral in Pangi for Petrus who died at 84 years old.
Killing 9 buffalos durinf a Toraja funeral for Petrus who died at 84 years old.
Killing 9 buffalos during the funeral for Petrus who died at 84 years old.
Killing 9 buffalos durinf the funeral for Petrus who died at 84 years old.
A motorbike with a pork that will be kill during a funeral close go Rantepao, Sulawesi.
Imam, 31, is the father of a 2 year old daughter, a victim of Sidoarjo Mud Flow, East Java. 10 years ago when it happened he was in the market. He lost his house.
Artist Dadang Christanto made these statues in Sidoarjo to remember the victims. For 10 years the mud flow has not stopped and now the statues are almost hidden.
Imam, a victim of the Mud Flow.
Sidoarjo Mud Flow.