Every corner of the world has its own way of saying goodbye to the dead. Some cremate them, others bury them. But have you ever heard of a family that keeps a dead body in a room for years, even after its death, as if it were a living person? You probably haven't. Recently, a video went viral.

Tribes and traditions vary. Every corner of the country is home to numerous tribes, each with its own distinct customs. We'll tell you about one such tradition, practiced for centuries, by the Toraja tribe, who live in the mountainous region of Indonesia's South Sulawesi Island. Here, death isn't the end of a relationship, but rather the beginning of a long and costly farewell. The people of this tribe don't bury their deceased relatives without arranging the world's most lavish and expensive funeral.

What is the method

According to the Toraja tribe, when a person stops breathing, they are not considered dead. They call them "makula," which means "sick person." The family believes that the soul is still in or around the body and needs care. Therefore, the body is kept in the best room of the house. It is fed fresh food three to four times a day, given water, and if the person smoked cigarettes while alive, it is also given cigarettes. Family members talk to the body as if it can hear. Previously, special herbal ointments were used to prevent odors, but now chemicals like formaldehyde are used to preserve the body like a mummy.

What is the real reason

The real reason behind this strange custom is both practical and financial. In Toraja society, the "Rambu Solo" funeral is considered one of the most expensive ceremonies in the world. While an average family spends at least 4.2 million rupees on a funeral, for wealthy families, the cost can reach nearly 40 million rupees. The ceremony involves a feast for hundreds of guests, the construction of huts for a period of time, and, most importantly, the sacrifice of buffaloes. The Toraja believe that buffaloes are the vehicle that will carry the deceased's soul to the "Puya" (spirit world). Even a simple funeral requires the sacrifice of at least 6 to 24 buffaloes. Certain white or spotted buffaloes can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000.

This method is for depositing money.

It takes a typical family several years to accumulate such a large sum of money, so the family gradually accumulates the money by keeping the body at home. In many cases, the body is kept at home for months or even years. When enough money is collected, a multi-day celebration ensues, including dancing, singing, and animal sacrifice. But the ceremony doesn't end with just a farewell.

Every few years, a ritual called "ma'anene," also known as the "second funeral," is performed. During this ceremony, the buried body is exhumed, cleaned, dressed in new clothes, and paraded through the village. For the Toraja community, this isn't a gruesome ritual, but rather a way to show love and respect for their loved ones. They believe that if the funeral isn't conducted properly and enough sacrifices aren't offered, the spirits of their ancestors can bring trouble to the family.

PC: Navarastra