Top

People dig up their deceased loved ones for creepy Indonesian festival

The bizarre tradition has been practised for more than a hundred years

Forget zombies, there’s a festival celebrated in Indonesia that involves digging up your deceased loved ones every three years, cleaning them and dressing them up for the occasion, according to Unilad. The Ma’nene festival, which is celebrated by a small group of people known as the Torajans, actually means ‘the Ceremony of Cleaning Corpses’.

The Torajans, who live in the mountainous region of Tana Toraja, believe that the spirits of the dead will bless the living for taking care of them. In fact, the bizarre tradition has been practised for more than a hundred years.

According to folklore, the tradition originated in the village of Baruppu after a hunter known as Pong Rumasek stumbled upon a decaying body under a tree in a mountainous region. He then dressed the corpse in his own clothes and gave it a proper burial, believing that he would be blessed with good fortune.

Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.

( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story