Manene: The Costliest Funeral In Tana Toraja Culture Indonesia (Buffalo Sacrifice)

Tana Toraja in Indonesia is a village where death is not considered the end of life. And where, after the death of a person, the bodies are neither burnt nor buried, but the bodies are kept with them for many years, the bodies are cleaned from time to time, they are bathed, new clothes are worn, and their make-up is done and kept again.

Where Is Tana Toraja?

Tana Toraja is a mountain range located in the southern part of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Where a strange tradition called Manene is prevalent. In which, in the family of the Indonesian people, if a person dies, then his body is kept as a safe living dead for many years. These people keep the bodies with them for many years. Then, when a substantial amount of wealth comes into the family, that person is paid tribute through a special funeral ritual.

The Living Dead in Tana Toraja (Indonesia)

If you see the videos of some YouTube vloggers like Nomad Shubham, Bansi Bishnoi, Kash Chaudhary, etc. in this area, you will know that when people are died here, their bodies are kept outside. This is normal for them. Here, the bodies are kept in homes until the family has enough money to perform the ceremony, and when the family has a good income, a death ceremony is held for that person. And the people here see this ritual as an honor. Because here people consider the death ceremony as a festival. In India, the festival is celebrated with much pomp and joy.

This ceremony in Tana Toraja is also seen as a symbol of respect. Because so much money is spent on this ceremony, there is not even spent in grand wedding. In this unique tradition, up to 50 lakh rupees are spent. And here in the society there is a belief that the more grand the process of a person's funeral is, the greater is the stature of that person in the society.

It would not be wrong to say that the Toraja region of Indonesia is most famous for its unique culture and funeral traditions.And this funeral ritual is the costliest funeral in the world because of its high expenses.

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How the Manene Ritual Is Performed in Tana Toraja (Indonesia)?

Tana Toraja When a person dies, the body of that person is kept in his own house in a coffin. Visitors to this area can see these dead bodies. These bodies are kept with the family till the required money comes for the funeral ceremony. This period of preserving bodies continues for many years. And in the meantime, the dead bodies of those who die are brought out in time. They are washed, washed, and dressed. And again they are kept.

When this tradition is done in this village, then a grand event is held during this ceremony. This ceremony can be performed by any member of the family. Grand dances and traditional arts are performed by the local people during the funeral celebration. And for those who come here to see the funeral, there is a separate arrangement of food and welcome. The main basis of this tradition is the Balinese custom.

The Sacrificial Tradition In Tana Toraja Of Pig And Buffalo: The sacrifice of pigs and disguises forms the main part of this ritual. In which pigs and buffaloes are sacrificed. In this, the Indonesian water buffalo, which is called Tedong, is sacrificed. Tedong has a distinct religious significance among the Toraja people, as it is an important part of their traditions. The more buffaloes and pigs a family sacrifices during this funeral ceremony, the greater the family's power and prestige in society. It's common for the upper class to sacrifice 60 to 90 buffaloes. For the poorer classes, the number may be less.

In the culture of the Toraja people, the sacrifice of a buffalo and a pig is of such importance that a dead person would need a vehicle to take his soul to heaven. According to them, Buffalo is that vehicle. In Torajan culture, the pig is considered a sacred and revered animal. Pigs are sacrificed because they believe the pig guides the soul of the deceased to heaven. After the sacrifice, the meat is distributed among the people, which is seen as a sign of social solidarity.

There is also a tradition of burying a family member after all the rituals and sacrifices, etc. According to this, if you sacrifice 12 pigs and 12 buffalo, you can make a hole in their traditional mountains in which you can bury the dead person. But if you sacrifice more than 24 buffaloes and 24 pigs, you can place an effigy of your family member in front of the grave. But you cannot place an idol of 12 pigs and 12 buffaloes in the ears. There is a popular saying behind placing these idols that these idols represent the souls of their ancestors, who protect their crops..

History Of Manene Ritual In Tana Torajan Indonesia:

This tradition is based on an ancient animist religion called Aluk To Dolo (The Way of the Ancestors). Burials existed before the 17th century, but after the 17th century, plundering and invasions led to changes in burial practices. As a result, people began to be buried in mountains. According to the Torajan people, this tradition signifies that death is not the end of life, but rather the soul's journey to heaven in the final stages of life. This is why this tradition is practiced in Torajan culture.

If you are thinking of seeing and feeling these traditions and nature prevalent in this Tana Toraja area of this Sulawesi island of Indonesia, then you can definitely go for a walk here. You will see a different culture here. If you want to know more about Torajan culture (Manene), you can go to YouTube and watch travel videos, which will help you know more about this place.

Tana Toraja – Documentary / Insights