The world’s strangest funeral of an ancient tribe in Indonesia

Tied to a stake on the ground and with its throat cut, a buffalo writhed and collapsed its large body onto the grass.

People living in the tribe believe that the souls of the deceased then go to Puya – the land of souls.

Traditional houses are where lavish meals are held at funerals of the deceased in the Toraja tribe.

June to September is the peak period, often called the burial season.

About a 20-minute drive southeast of the Toraja tribal village, on a muddy road along the fields, Antho saw hundreds of guests with relatives, families and even tourists being treated.

Toraja people believe that sacrificing many buffaloes and pigs is a sign of respect for the deceased.

Anthon was brought to meet a small woman, dressed in black, and the head of the clan.

Inside the house, the women present chewed candy and the men sipped palm wine.

In the solemn procession, the deceased’s relatives – a widow – smiled, followed by elderly people of the same status and all dressed in black.

The resting place of the deceased is usually in limestone caves around the hill.

Effigies called `tau tau` are responsible for guarding the land around the grave.

Back at the banquet table, food continued to be served and the buffaloes were prepared to be dragged to the grass as sacrifices.

However, funerals are still an expensive occasion in the lives of the Toraja people with many rituals and animal sacrifices.

Saying goodbye to the Toraja people in the smoke-filled hut, Anthon and his wife returned to the old path and could still clearly hear the screams of the pigs in the slaughterhouse echoing throughout the mountains and hills.

At the Londa tomb cave, from the cliff to the burial place is a road only a few meters long but filled with effigies of the deceased called `tau tau`.