The Terrifying Life of an Indonesian Tribe Among the Dead + Shocking Photos

According to Saed News, citing Beitooteh, an unusual tradition of an Indonesian tribe involving living with their mummified dead has attracted media attention.

IG News reports that Indonesia’s Toraja tribe, following an ancient custom, mummifies their deceased and keeps them at home for a period of time. They treat the dead as if they were still alive, integrating them into daily life.

According to the Toraja people, the spirits of the deceased remain in the home and are offered food, clothing, water, and even cigarettes. The tribe preserves the skin and flesh of the dead with a coating of formaldehyde and water to prevent decomposition. Families also store dried plants alongside the corpses to mask the odor.

In this society, a well-preserved body symbolizes wealth and abundance, so families make every effort to keep their deceased in the best possible condition. Toraja children are taught from a young age to accept death as a natural part of life.

Many villagers say that delaying funeral ceremonies helps with the mourning process. However, even after burial in a tomb or stone grave, it is not the last time relatives will see their deceased.

In a traditional ritual called Manene, meaning “caring for ancestors,” held annually in August, families exhume their dead, remove them from coffins, clean off dirt and insects, dress them in new clothes, and return them to their graves.

In some photos, relatives are seen cleaning “Marta Rantlembong,” who passed away two years ago. Another image shows “Todeng,” who died in 2009; his young relatives light a cigarette for him, change his glasses, and place his body outdoors so he can enjoy the sun.