Funeral Season

Tana Toraja region, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Unique and fascinating culture, the place where strong Christian faith mixes with ancient traditions. The season for funerals lasts three months in a year and those people who decide to die another time must wait. Sometimes waiting can be extented to years. All depends on the family's ability to collect the money for a ceremony. Important is also to be sure most of the deceased's relatives can come for the funeral. Sometimes hundreds of them come and one day can be not enough for the inviting guests ceremony. The funeral consist number of different ceremonies and may last even two weeks. The last day is the burial day when the body is finnaly placed in a grave.

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Keywords tana toraja; sulawesi; celebes; rantepao; indonesia; funeral; funeral service; ceremony; tradition; death; family; coffin; grave; mourn; water buffalo; buffalos; sacrifice; slaughtering; blood; meat; beef