Family selfies at Indonesia’s Manene Festival in Tana Toraja

Selfies with your dead relatives? This actually is a thing in some villages in Tana Toraja in Indonesia. At the Ma’nene Festival, villagers exhume the graves of their relatives and clean and dress their bodies as a form of respect. #tanatoraja #burial #rituals #afterlife

———

We set off on anOTHER LIFE to tell stories about the unknown, untold and unheard. This is our effort to "equalise humanity" — to showcase fringe cultures, remote communities and alternative lives. Join us in learning more about amazing cultures and people who invoke wonder, challenge perceived norms and sometimes even cause discomfort!

[Dronkey]

Haha "back to their tombs" like ok back to your room till next year 😂

[OfficalBalascioFilms]

Digging up your dead relatives for a picture is wild💀💀

[sunshinejaz]

They have hearts & stomachs of steel to be able to do this. I couldn’t even fathom.

[thereseeklund]

I would NOT want to see my dead mother in that kind of state for sure😢

[The_Black_Falchion]

This is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen.

[justamediocreyoutubechanne]

Grandpa with the glasses just simply doesn't give a fuck and wants to be put back

[happylife]

Alhamdulillah I am a Muslim and I will keep thanking Allah for the rest of my life

[sillyme]

Dude's growing a mustache inside his nose.

[_MANASYt]

I'm traveling there next month, not sure it's the season too see this though...

[craternose]

A sign of love and respect would be to let them rest and not disturb them!

[Positivemindset]

They took honor your ancestors to another level.

[Frtttll]

Hell nah I’m traumatized 💀


I want to visit Indonesia to drink coffee that’s made out of shit

[Vortx]

Naaahhhh Mom and dad, Please let me in your room for tonight sleep 😭

[wormdump]

I don't understand this tradition 100% of the way, but I'd like to imagine that the souls of the dead above feel honored to still be able to create memories with the people they care for with in the process being cared for themselves through being checked up on and having their clothes changed.

It's very nice to see love still go for the dead other than just having them in your thoughts and prayers, to show that you still miss and love them through accompanying them. Even if it's just once a year.

[marshals]

This is one of the many ethnic traditions in Indonesia, Indonesia has more than 700+ different ethnicities and traditions, even the language too.

[Jorge_Jones]

It's amazing how as humans we can be so alike in certain things we do, and on the other end of the spectrum, so different.
This would have to be one of the most bizarre rituals I have seen, however, I have full respect for the people involved. This is their culture and beliefs. Outsider's will never understand.

[edpalomino]

I could never dig up my family and see them this way. This is so strange to me, but I do understand how a different culture could see it differently and I do respect their beliefs and traditions. I wonder how long this tradition has been practiced.

[daughterofzion]

Madness in the highest level mitttewwww

[dwipriyanto]

Well as disclaimer, not every Indonesian has this tradition. It is in Tana Toraja. Torajanese is a subethnic of South Sulawesi. Indonesia is a huge country which has many groups of people and traditions.

[greenbeans]

I think this is really sweet! Treating those who have long past with the same love and respect as if they were still breathing.