Indonesian tribe dig up corpses of their relatives to wash, dress, cut their hair and take SELFIES with them at annual harvest ritual

AN Indonesian tribe – passionate about the “Walking Dead” – dig up coffins containing their dead loved ones and parade their bodies across farmland – in a bid to obtain good fortune.

The Torajan families who live in the highlands of south Sulawesi, wash, groom and dress the bodies of their dead relatives and friends as part of Ma’nene annual harvest celebrations.

Young girls pose for a selfie in front of their relative's corpse

Bodies of all relatives and friends are dug up – even babies and children – as part of their annual celebrations which last for three days.

The families open the coffins and let the bodies dry for some time.

Afterwards, they wash, groom and dress the mummies in new fancy clothes and take them for a walk through the village in straight lines in a zombie-like fashion.

All this is done while smiling from ear-to-ear because crying and mourning is prohibited.

“It is our way of respecting the dead,” said one of the villagers.

“There is no mourning. It is a moment of joy for us because we reunite with our dead relatives.

This woman is carrying her relative's corpse across her farmland - in hope that the corpse will bring them a good harvest

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This woman is carrying her relative’s corpse across her farmland – in hope that the corpse will bring them a good harvestCredit: [email protected]
A child's corpse is placed beneath a crucifix mosaic

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A child’s corpse is placed beneath a crucifix mosaicCredit: [email protected]
The villagers lie a corpse on the ground before they begin to wash and re-dress it

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The villagers lie a corpse on the ground before they begin to wash and re-dress itCredit: [email protected]
A local cleans his mother's dead body

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A local cleans his mother’s dead bodyCredit: SIJORI IMAGES
Locals help each other to carry their loved ones coffins, in hope of getting a good harvest

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Locals help each other to carry their loved ones coffins, in hope of getting a good harvestCredit: SIJORI IMAGES

“We try to honour them and in return get their blessings for good harvest.”

After the walk, the villagers sacrifice buffalo and pigs as an offering for the dead’s free walk to heaven.

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