Funeral sacrifice in Tanatoraja Sulawesi Indonesia
An albino water buffalo has been sacrified at a Toraja Tomate, a funeral. Albino buffaloes are up to 5 times the price of a normal buffalo and are highly valued as an offering. Until the coming of dutch missionaries in the nineteenth century, the Torajans lived in almost complete isolation. They are one of the fiercest and most remote people in Indonesia. Coffee growing was introduced in the last quarter of the century and this began the process of social change. It was only in 1905-06 that the Dutch gained control over the Torajan mountains in central Celebes, now Sulawesi. They brought many changes to Torajan life and religion. Fertility aspects of the religion were stopped as was the practice of offering freshly severed human heads at the end of a funeral. Water buffalo were substituted for the human heads and these are raised on a large scale for ritual purposes as a major death feast needs a sacrifice of about a hundred buffalo. Despite the spread of Christianity (60%) and some Islam (10%) there is still very strong adat village ritual. But rituals can be mixed in with Christian practice often in a fantastic way. For example at The Feast of the Dead people attend church and afterwards buffalo are sacrificed. Tourism has developed rapidly in recent years with package tours coming from France Italy and other countries. Tourists are mainly interested in seeing the lavish funerals and the government is encouraging the Torajans to spread the funerals through the year so that more tourists come. The afterworld is Puya the land of souls which is to the southwest under the earth. By a lavish death feast the deceased will reach Puya. He/she is judged by Pong Lalondong and then climbs a mountain to reach heaven where he/she joins the deified ancestors as a constellation which guards mankind and the rice.
Size: 5393px × 3577px
Location: Near Rantepao Tana Toradja, Toradjaland, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Photo credit: © W.Wiskerke / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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