Toraja

The Toraja people live in the highlands and central regions of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is said that Torajans came from the sky and return to it after their death. In the book, Ring of Fire, An Indonesian Odyssey by Lawrence and Lorne Blair, people are quoted as saying “Before the dawn of human memory, our ancestors descended from the Pleiades in sky ships.”

Toraja are known for their elaborate funeral rites which can last 5 days

Torajan grave sites are often hewn into rocks and many feature the uniquely shaped saddle roof structures also found on ceremonial building. We were told that the curved shape stems from the belief that Torajans came from the pleiades and will return there after death.

Tau tau are carved wood statues representing the deceased relatives which are displayed on balconies on rock faces where bodies of the dead are placed in tombs hewn into the rock.

In many places the tau tau are adorned by clothing

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