SEAToday.com, South Sulawesi-The Toraja tribe, located in South Sulawesi, practice an animist belief called Aluk Todolo, which holds that dying is merely a step on the path to rebirth rather than the end of being alive. Their death rituals are therefore extremely complex and expensive to execute and may endure for several months or even years.

The practice of marrying the dead is one of the most bizarre death rites. If someone passes away before having the chance to get married during their lifetime, this tradition is carried out. The family of the deceased will find a life partner for them, either a person who is still alive or a dead person. If the spouse is still alive, then they must agree to the marriage and be willing to live with the corpse of her husband or wife. If the partner is a fellow dead person, then the two bodies will be put together in one coffin and buried together.

This tradition stems from the belief that single individuals will have a difficult time moving to the afterlife. They won't be given a proper place in heaven because they will be considered immature children. Because of this, the deceased's family wants to honor them by getting them married to the right person.

It is challenging to carry out this traditional practice. The cost of having both a funeral and a wedding ceremony is expensive. Interacting with corpses also presents health and hygienic dangers for them. However, this tradition is still preserved by the Toraja Tribe as part of their respect and love for their ancestors. (NADHIRA/DKD)