The astonishing tradition of the Torajan tribe in Indonesia: They dig up their deceased relatives from the grave to take photographs.

The Torajan tribe, living on the Sulawesi island of Indonesia, continues a very interesting tradition. In this ritual called Ma'nene, deceased family members are taken out of their graves and photographed with their living relatives.

This tradition is usually carried out every few years, typically at the end of August. Families remove the mummified bodies of their deceased loved ones from the graves, clean them, and dress them in new clothes. Sometimes, even cigarettes are given to the corpses.

The purpose of the ritual is to maintain a connection with the spirits of the ancestors and strengthen family bonds. The Torajans believe that this tradition will bring them luck and prosperity.

In Torajan culture, death is not seen as a sudden end, but as a long process. The deceased person is kept at home until a proper funeral ceremony is held and is considered "sick" or "sleeping". This preparation process can sometimes take years.

Funeral ceremonies are grand and expensive events. Water buffaloes are sacrificed during the ceremony, and it is believed that the higher the status of the deceased person in the afterlife, the more buffaloes are sacrificed.

Although this tradition may seem eerie to outsiders, it is an expression of respect and love for their ancestors for the Torajan people. However, it should not be forgotten that the corpses can pose health risks.