Warning: Viewer discretion is advised.
Nope, this is not a Halloween special! About 800km from Bali, the Toraja people actually treat their dead relatives' bodies as if they're still alive.
The ethnic group consists of 1 million people. The group believes that the soul of the person stays close to the body even after death.
By preserving their bodies, they will earn good fortune!
When a relative passes away, the families provide them with food, clothing, water & a bowl to be used as a 'toilet'.
They mummify the bodies with special leaves & herbs to remove the decaying stench. According to The Sun, formalin is coated onto the corpses so the flesh & skin don't rot.
Bodies are wrapped in blankets and live in the homes until their funerals- months or decades later.
Every year, the Torajans remove the dead from their coffins for a makeover & to let the younger generation 'meet their ancestors'.
So, if you happen to be in the village, don't be shocked and try to be respectful of their culture!
