The lifeless body is kept and cared for in the tongkonan or the traditional Torajan house. The dead bodies remain there for several months, in some cases even decades, until the clan can afford a proper funeral and can eventually schedule the ceremony. In the meantime, dried plants are used to neutralize the odor of the formalin.

The last breath of a sacrificial water buffalo during funeral processions known as Rambu Solo marks the official death of a “sick person.” Only then will the soul of the deceased be finally raised to Puya, or the Torajan version for Heaven. The more buffalos are sacrificed, the wealthier the family and the faster a soul will find its way to Puya. There, it will be with God and live a fulfilling afterlife. Without buffalo sacrifices, the soul won’t find its way. According to Aluk To Dolo – the ancestral belief of the Torajans – 24 is the suggested number of sacrificial buffalos for most castes, although the exact number will be suggested by the local chief and then discussed with the family. Some guests will bring additional buffalos as a gift. It’s an unwritten law in Torajan culture for the family to pay back a buffalo in the same price range at the next funeral.