Funeral Traditions in Toraja, Indonesia: Corpses Remain in Houses for Years Before Being Buried in Cliffs

The Rambu Solo ceremony has several levels, depending on the social and economic status of the family holding it. In general, the procession consists of several main stages:

- Ma'tudan Mebalun – The process of wrapping the body in a special cloth before being taken to the burial place.

- Ma'popengkalao – The lifting of the body into a coffin, which will be placed in a barn or traditional house.

- Ma'pasonglo' – A ceremony of prayer and respect for the deceased.

- Ma'badong – Traditional dances and songs performed by the community as a form of respect and mourning.

- Buffalo Slaughter (Tedong Solok) – One of the most important parts of this ceremony, where several buffalo are sacrificed as a symbol of the spirit's journey to Puya. The more buffalo sacrificed, the higher the social status of the deceased's family.

- Cliff Burial or Stone Grave – The body is then placed in a cave or rock cliff, in accordance with a tradition that has been going on for hundreds of years.

One of the hallmarks of Rambu Solo is the buffalo slaughter, which is an integral part of this ceremony.

In Toraja, buffalo, especially the Tedong Bonga (striped buffalo), are highly valued, reaching hundreds of millions of rupiah per head. Therefore, this ceremony is often very expensive and requires years for families to gather sufficient funds.

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Social and Economic Impact

Besides being part of a traditional ritual, Rambu Solo also has a significant social and economic impact on the Torajan people.

Many families are willing to save for years to organize this ceremony in a grand manner. The costs can reach hundreds of millions to billions of rupiah, depending on the number of buffalo sacrificed and the complexity of the event.

Furthermore, this ceremony also has a positive impact on the tourism sector. Tourists from both Indonesia and abroad often come to Toraja to witness this procession firsthand.

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