Graphic content - Indonesian villagers dig up their ancestors and dress them in new clothes every three years

A village in Indonesia every three years, dig up their ancestors every three years and dress them in new clothes in ancient ritual to show 'love and respect'.

The Torajan people of Indonesia proudly display their dead relatives after digging them up and dressing them in new clothes in an ancient ritual that is meant to show respect for their late loved ones.

Every three years, the tribe from Sulawesi island exhume their dead, who they wash and dress in fresh clothes and then pose for family photographs in a festival known as Ma'nene.

The ritual, which translates as 'The Ceremony of Cleaning Corpses,' has been going on for more than a century.

Many save money their entire life so they can have a respectable burial for themselves or family members.

In some cases the deceased's funeral is held several weeks or even years after their death so the family have ample time to cover the extensive funeral costs.

When a member of the village dies they are wrapped in several layers of cloth to prevent the body's decay. Then, they are dug up every three years, admired by loved ones and dressed up in different clothing.

The tradition is carried out by Torajan people, an ethnic group indigenous to the mountainous region of Tana Toraja. One of the most important events in a Torajan's life is their funeral.

Another important element of the Ma'nene festival is replacing and repairing the coffins in a bid to stop the body from decomposing.

The Torajan people live high in the mountains of Sulawesi island in Indonesia. The area is so remote that many of the villages were completely autonomous until the 1970's when the area was exposed to the outside world by Dutch missionaries.

Within the villages it is encouraged to marry within the family, but only beyond your fourth cousin.
In the Torajan belief system death is not a final step, but just one step in their spiritual life.

The funeral is a pivotal point of transition and some funerals will last up to a week with elaborate celebrations.

Torajan people believe the spirit of a dead person should always return to their village of origin, which had deterred many from every leaving their home in case they died while on their journey.

If that happened, the family would often venture to the location and carry the person's body home to their village of origin.

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