In the hilly areas of Indonesia's Torajan, death doesn’t mean saying goodbye by burying the deceased but rather taking care of the mummified body, which is reportedly placed in another room of the home. The skin is protected from decay by applying a mixture of formaldehyde and water, and dried plants are used to mask any odour.The Torajan people believe that a well-preserved body brings good fortune. From a young age, Torajans are taught to accept death as part of life's journey.The dead are provided with food, clothing, water, and even cigarettes. "In Toraja, it is customary to feed the deceased every day and keep the corpses cozily bedded in a separate room of the home until the family can afford a proper funeral, which can cost anywhere from 50,000 to 500,000 USD depending on the family’s caste and how many buffalo they must sacrifice," Claudio Sieber told The Escape. During a ritual known as Ma’nene—meaning "care for ancestors"—which traditionally takes place in August, the dead are brought out of their graves, removed from their coffins, cleaned of insects and dirt, dressed in new clothes, and taken to the village.Families and friends travel long distances to reunite with loved ones and pay their respects. Younger generations also get a chance to see and meet their ancestors. The occasion is marked with feasts, and people can be seen posing with the coffins. After the rituals, the deceased are returned to their coffins, and relatives leave new gifts such as watches, glasses, or jewellery.