This article did contain several inaccuracies. I married a Toraja woman 35 years ago, and all my kids are half Torajan. I have been there many times, and we have several houses there. I have seen all of the activities depicted in the article, but have never detected any untoward stench. These people seem to rot in a most unobtrusive manner; my missus says it is because their chili, which they seemingly cannot do without and is one of the most powerful in the world, alters the putrifaction process, though I have never been able to ascertain her claim. Could be, I dunno.
To Torajans, there is absolutely nothing weird about their custom, though with the intrusion of the modern world, many are staring to see it as a bit extreme. Most have travelled outside of Toraja, and many internationally. They form a tight community here in Jakarta, and tend to succeed pretty well in modern businesses. By no means rich or sophisticated, most Torajans lead surprisingly modern and comfortable lives, with complete mobile ‘phone coverage and high speed internet connections. The satellite dish is only for reception of the domestic television programs, although cable connections are available in the larger towns.
Torajans are nearly all Christians, ~80% Protestant, and quite devout. Muslims have never been welcome there. Eye of the beholder, of course, but the topography of Toraja, of which no mention was made in the story, is probably the most splendid in all of Indonesia.
I am sure they find the way we treat our elders as barbaric.
That’s the “fun” of culture.
Thank you for the additional information.
When I saw the article, my first thought was the Mexican “Day of the Dead”.
A time of remembrance.
Terima kasih. In my younger years we would ‘sit up’ with the dead for a while prior to a funeral. Shemira is still practiced by some. But this is on a different level. Thanks for info. I don’t recall coming across the Toraja in my travels.
Thanks for that.
Best,
L