Hello fellas, meet you again :D
Who didn't know about Toraja? Often people said, Toraja's people are mysterious and have mystical power to ressurect corpse to walk to his grave. Well, i have to said no :p
Today, most Toraja people influenced by urbanization and modernization. From culture perspective, the local tradition still maintained like funeral tradition, etc.
Their ancestors are farmer or gardener whose also have a deep impact with the enviroment living in South Sulawesi.
My trip was start after semester II break begin. It takes approximately one hour by plane from Jakarta to Makassar and nine hours by bus to reach Tana Toraja. I recommend take a morning bus trip since Sulawesi has beautiful mountain scenery.
Every bus will stop at the central tourist town of Tana Toraja, Rantepao. I ever went to Tana Toraja while still kindergarten too.
Many of changes occur 14 years now. Tana Toraja had aduquate development with growing tourist information especiality for domestic and foreign tourist than periodes later. I hope, this movement made peoples care with enviroment too, because My father are from my beloved land, Tana Toraja too.
Funeral Tradition
I though this is the most famous Toraja's culture landmark. With a very high cost, most families create large funeral for passed out family member. The reason is the locals believed a passed family member didn't rest in peace if no one slaugtering buffalos nor pigs for tribute to God. Generously, all meats also to be shared with each other. Sometimes you can get more ten or more kilograms if you're relatives.
Funeral goes to be held aproximately for 7 or more days with different event each day.
First event is a small/private funeral. There wasa buffalo slaughtering which has to be shared with family relatives only and there was event (I though this is very interesting) a buffalo duel. The buffalo looks danger but actually they are calm for peoples since I never seen buffalo hitting people at Toraja. Often the people takes a risk to watch buffalo duel without wall barrier, even standing at the arena. Most buffalo used for land cultivitation and grazing.
Next event is a reception day. Every guest who attended the funeral will be welcomed by family member. This is the most anticipated event by visitor who came to watching. Tourist even can't stand to join lining up to taste tea/toraja's coffee and origin snack. At least, a grup of local choir lining in the circle to sang funeral song.
Next event, is a meat sharing. A lot of animal barn like buffalos and pigs were slaugtered at front of guest. The guest will have a shares of meats. I thought as a stranger we shouldn't unpolitely ask for shares.
The next event is grave day. The passed family member will be takes to the final resting place. As a culture, grave aren't in the ground but in cave, tree (for youngster). Modern today, grave are made into sanctuary. Christian is a major beliefs in Toraja since 1913, while most funeral procedures are modified in Christian tradition today.
It's interest to see this funeral moment when you come visit the land of Toraja. Believe or not,almost everyday in harvest season we often hearing ambulance siren crossing my relatives house to escort corpse to funeral home. Most are coming from relatives who lived in outside.
In enviromental side, since modernization. Toraja may grow slightly with landfill and city planning issues.
Water pollution are triggered from the peak by run off deforestation to create paddy fields, garbage, and defecation at Rantepao central river. My father said the water are clear and he often take a bath when water pipe are not build yet. Eventhough, water from pipe looked foggy.
Compared by capital of south Toraja, Makale are clean enough than Rantepao, but Rantepao has more beautiful countryside views.
Well thats my past story. FYI, this isn't travel blog. Just a sharing to
but I hope next period Toraja will developed well with row of growing tourist, as many people and government starts to care the local environments with row of modernization.
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