The strange tradition: Strange and weird traditions are seen in many parts of the world, but some traditions are so shocking that the soul shivers on hearing them. One such tradition is where people make soup from the bones of a corpse and drink it. This practice is not only strange, but can also be unbearable and frightening for many people. This tradition is related to a special tribe, which believes that this process is a symbol of reverence for the dead and spiritual purification.
Where is this strange tradition prevalent?
This strange tradition is prevalent in the Toraja community of Indonesia. The Toraja tribe, which lives on the island of South Sulawesi, is famous for its very unique and mysterious practices related to death. Here, instead of burying or burning the dead body immediately, it is kept in the house for years. They believe that the body of the deceased is not completely ‘dead’ until it is cremated. Therefore, preparations for the funeral can sometimes take months or years.
Reason for drinking soup made from the bones of the dead body
The people of the Toraja community believe that drinking soup made from the bones of their dead gives peace to the soul and the blessings of the deceased remain with them. There is a sense of reverence hidden behind this practice, where family members do not consider death as just the end of life, but the beginning of a new journey. Drinking this soup is a way for them to maintain the memory of the deceased and a deep connection with him. They believe that by doing this the happiness and prosperity of the family remains.
Religious and cultural significance
This tradition of the Toraja community is not just a custom, but it has deep spiritual and social significance. Here the funeral is celebrated like a grand festival, in which people participate in large numbers. During this, buffaloes and pigs are also sacrificed, because they believe that these sacrifices are helpful in taking the dead soul to heaven.
Reactions of modern society
Although this tradition is performed with reverence and respect in the Toraja tribe, people of modern society and the outside world consider it strange and intolerable. The practice of drinking soup made from the bones of a corpse may seem very bizarre and inhumane to the Western world. Such practices are also considered harmful by human rights organizations and scientifically because they pose a risk of spreading diseases.
This tradition of the Toraja tribe gives the world an opportunity to understand how different and complex the customs related to death can be in different cultures. While this practice surprises us, it also shows that every community understands and respects life and death in its own way. Although such practices may disturb many people, they are part of the cultural diversity, which introduces us to the depths of human thought and emotions.
