Mourners carry a red silk banner over their heads as they walk ahead of the coffin at a funeral ceremony in Tana Toraja, Indonesia.
A unique culture has evolved in the highlands of southern Sulawesi, which blends Christianity with ancient animist beliefs.
Torajans believe that nobody really dies.
When a loved one passes away, they aren’t gone – they’ve simply moved to a new stage of life, and continue to watch over their families as a deified ancestor.
This belief runs deep in Torajan culture, and funeral ceremonies – which can last up to a week – are the glue that holds communities together.
The red banner is attached to a wooden frame used to carry the coffin. In Torajan art the colour red represents blood and human life, and is an important colour in funeral ceremonies.
You can read more about Torajan funerals, and see loads of original photos from my time in the Sulawesi highlands.
