By Admin 
The traditions of funeral after death are different in every culture in the world, but there are some customs which surprise at first sight. There is also an area in Indonesia where children are buried not in the ground but inside a tree. It may sound scary, but for the local people it symbolizes the connection between nature and spirit.
Indonesia and its unique cultural traditions
Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, but hundreds of tribes and cultures live here. The Toraja tribe of South Sulawesi province is known for its unique funeral traditions. These traditions are based more on local beliefs and beliefs related to nature than on religion, hence social context is necessary to understand them.
Tradition of burying children in a tree
In Toraja community, if a child dies before teething, he is not buried in the ground. The villagers make a hole in the trunk of a big tree and wrap the child’s body in a cloth and keep it in that hole. After this the place is closed with fiber made from palm tree. With time the tree grows and the hole fills itself.
What is the belief behind this?
Local people believe that the souls of such children are very pure. By burying in a tree, the wind and nature carry away that soul. According to their belief, through this process the child’s soul goes directly into the lap of nature. Therefore it is not considered death, but a return to a new form of life.
Is this tradition scary
This tradition may seem frightening to outsiders, because the pits made in the trees and the atmosphere there appear mysterious, but the local community follows it with respect and reverence. For them this is not grief, but the path to peace of the soul. This is the reason why they consider this tradition not terrible but sacred.
Different customs for adults
In the Toraja community, the funeral process is different for adults and youth. If an adult dies, the bodies of the ancestors are taken out of the grave first. They are dressed in new clothes and taken around the village. Only after this the newly deceased person is buried. This ritual is considered a symbol of maintaining the relationship between the dead and the living.
Tradition and tourism in modern times
Nowadays, this tradition has become a subject of curiosity for people all over the world. A large number of tourists come to Toraja region to witness these customs. However, the local administration and community take care that these traditions are performed with respect and not as a sensation.
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