DEATH RITUAL How a one million strong tribe keep their dead relatives at home, feeding and cuddling their rotting bodies

With many low-income rural Torajans struggling to earn more than around 1 million rupiah each month (£54), bank loans are often a necessity and in recent years, younger people have been moving to the cities, unable to afford such high amounts.

Every Auguts, dead relatives are removed from their coffins and cleaned

Christina Bane’ passed away at the age of 94 – and hers on outs powder on her to preserve her

They are given new clothes and are brought to visit their old homes – here, a man sits near his late wife and her late friend

Bodies are buried with their favourite belongings

The bodies are mummified using a chemical solution

Much of the money goes towards buying dozens of water buffalo – which can cost between £7,000 and £30,000, based on length of horns and colour of the eyes – to sacrifice, known as Rambu Solo.

This marks the official death of the person and help raise them to heaven, a place they call Puya.

Ma’nene comes to an end on Thanksgiving Day

A mummy with long hair is tended to by a relative

Families will travel far and wide to be reunited with their loved ones

Families will also pose for pictures with the bodies

These funerals tend to be more of a celebration than a sombre event.

Even after the dead have been buried in a mausoleum or stone grave, it won’t be the last time their relatives will come face-to-face with their body.

In a ritual known as Ma’nene – which means “care for ancestors” and traditionally takes place in August – the dead are brought out from their graves, taken out of their coffins, washed of insects and dirt, given new clothes and brought down to the village to enjoy a cigarette in their favourite spot or visit their old home.