Here people talk to the dead, a unique tradition where dead bodies are considered a part of the family:

News India Live, Digital Desk: Indonesia Unique Tradition: How do you feel when you hear about a festival where people dig the graves of their dead loved ones, take out their bodies, bathe them, dress them in new clothes and sit and talk with them? It may sound like a scene from a horror movie, but for the Toraja community living on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, it is a tradition of respect that has been going on for centuries. This ritual is called ‘Ma’nene’, which means the ceremony of cleaning dead bodies.

It is not a matter of one or two days, but this festival is celebrated every few years in the month of August. Toraja people believe that death is not the end of life, but the beginning of a long spiritual journey. They do not consider dead people as ‘dead’ but as ‘sick’ (Toma Kula). They believe that until a person’s last rites are performed, which is called ‘Rambu Solo’, his soul remains in the house.

Why is the dead body taken out of the grave?

The spirit behind the Ma’anene festival is not one of fear, but of deep love and respect for their ancestors. The Toraja community believes that taking care of the bodies of their loved ones makes them happy and blesses the family with good harvests and prosperity. This festival is a way for them to reunite with their ancestors, connect with them and express their belonging.[3] During this time, family members open the graves of their dead relatives, carefully take out the bodies, clean them, dress them in new clothes and then parade them around the village.

People offer their favorite food and even cigarettes to the dead bodies of their loved ones. Young members of the family also take photographs and selfies with the dead bodies of their ancestors. After doing all this, the dead bodies are placed in new coffins and buried with dignity.

Until the last rites take place, the dead body is kept at home.

The funeral process of Toraja tribe is also quite different. When someone dies, the family does not perform the last rites immediately. Instead, they store the body in a separate room of the house after applying a paste such as formaldehyde. During this time, they are treated like a sick member and are given food and water daily.

The funeral, or ‘Rambu Solo’, is a very large and expensive affair, in which buffaloes and pigs are sacrificed. Families save money for months, sometimes years, so that they can give their loved one a grand farewell. They believe that buffaloes are the vehicle to take the soul of the deceased to heaven (Puya). This is the reason why until enough money is collected for the last rites, the body remains at home with the family.