Pop Up: Tana Toraja Funeral
Rambu Solo’, is a funeral procession in Toraja society. It means: the Setting Sun or Smoke Descending rituals which are associated with the south and west, with darkness, night, and death. Generally, there are two of them: one immediately after a death and elaborate, second funeral after preparations. This ritual procession held to send the spirit to the Puya, the afterworld, properly to avoid misfortune to its family. The souls of the dead can only go to Puya when the entire death ritual has been carried out. Without proper funeral rites the spirit of the deceased will cause misfortune to its family. The funeral sacrifices, ceremonies and feats also impress the gods with the importance of deceased, so that the spirit can intercede effectively on behalf of living relatives.
They believe the soul of the deceased will ride the souls of the slaughtered buffaloes and pigs to heaven. The buffalo has traditionally been a symbol of wealth and power - even land could be paid for buffaloes. After the guest display their presents of pigs and buffaloes, the traditional Mabadong song and dance is performed. This is a ceremonial re-enactment of the cycle of human life and the life story of the deceased. It is also farewell to the soul of the deceased, and relays the hope that the soul will arrive in the afterworld safely. Funerals can be spread out over several days and involve hundreds of guests (and many tourists).
In Toraja, a dead person is called 'Tomate'. It presides over the funeral from the high-roofed tower constructed at one and of the field. At a funeral, bamboo pavilions for the family and guests are constructed around a field. There are several arcs of groups of roughly hewn stone slabs around villages, and each stone possibly represents a member of the noble class who lived and died there.
There is also statues made for Tomate that stand at the mouth of the cave and looks out from a balcony near the burial caves. This is to guard and watch over the families and friends they have been left behind. The faces of these Tau Tau made similar with each Tomates.
more..
They believe the soul of the deceased will ride the souls of the slaughtered buffaloes and pigs to heaven. The buffalo has traditionally been a symbol of wealth and power - even land could be paid for buffaloes. After the guest display their presents of pigs and buffaloes, the traditional Mabadong song and dance is performed. This is a ceremonial re-enactment of the cycle of human life and the life story of the deceased. It is also farewell to the soul of the deceased, and relays the hope that the soul will arrive in the afterworld safely. Funerals can be spread out over several days and involve hundreds of guests (and many tourists).
In Toraja, a dead person is called 'Tomate'. It presides over the funeral from the high-roofed tower constructed at one and of the field. At a funeral, bamboo pavilions for the family and guests are constructed around a field. There are several arcs of groups of roughly hewn stone slabs around villages, and each stone possibly represents a member of the noble class who lived and died there.
There is also statues made for Tomate that stand at the mouth of the cave and looks out from a balcony near the burial caves. This is to guard and watch over the families and friends they have been left behind. The faces of these Tau Tau made similar with each Tomates.
more..
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