The death of a loved one is never easy. Realizing that the person who has been part of your life for so long is no longer going to be there to talk to, laugh, cry, and even argue with is hard to accept. Psychologists say people go through five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Each phase does not happen in a linear order. A person’s culture also plays a part in how you come to understand and deal with death. In some parts of the world, funerals are filled with music, dancing, a celebration of this life and its continuation to the other world. A contrast to the black wardrobe-wearing and sorrowful funerals in North America. Other parts of the world never quite let go of the deceased, instead including them in their everyday lives.The death of the body is part of a journey.
The bodies are washed with formaldehyde and water in order to preserve them.
The bodies are exhumed to be washed and dressed in new, clean clothing.
The family members will take the decease into their homes.
Many say they don’t feel sad their loved ones are gone as they feel they are still with them.
It takes approximately eight hours to reach the remote village.
This can take months and years to have all the family present.
Cousins, aunts, and other family members are expected to donate food like buffalo.
But you cannot miss a funeral.
Their coffins are also cleaned, fixed, or replaced.
Torajans believe the spirit of the dead must return home.
Those who have left and died away, their families make the journey to return the body to the village.
The corpses are buried with their favourite things or important possessions.
This is reserved only for the wealthy families.
They are made of bamboo or wood.
