In Indonesia, there exists a remarkable tradition where the deceased are neither buried nor cremated. Instead, families keep their loved ones' bodies at home, treating them as if they were still alive. Conversations and care continue as if the deceased were part of the household.
This peculiar practice can be observed in the Toraja region of Indonesia, where the customs surrounding death are both fascinating and unsettling. When someone passes away, rather than conducting a funeral, the body is preserved as a mummy. Families maintain the corpses with great care, even engaging in conversations and offering food as if the deceased were still among them.
The City of the Dead
In Toraja, when a death occurs, the body is not immediately buried. Instead, it is mummified and kept in the family home. The deceased are treated with utmost respect, receiving food, water, and even cigarettes. It is said that every August, the mummified bodies are taken out of their graves for cleaning and makeup, celebrating their existence.
Families believe that the deceased remain with them in spirit, and they continue to interact with the mummies, taking photographs and sharing stories. This belief is deeply ingrained in the local culture, where it is thought that love transcends death, and those who care for you will never truly leave.
