CUDDLING up to Arel, her six year-old sister, Clara stares directly at the camera for a picture.

It has the makings of a sweet family mantelpiece portrait - however, one of the girls is dead.

31 Clara poses with her dead sister Arel, who died when she was six Credit: Claudio Sieber

In a mountainous area of Indonesia, the Toraja people mummify the bodies of the deceased and care for their preserved bodies as though they are still living.

There are around one million Torajan people, most of whom live in the South Sulawesi region, who believe that after death the soul remains in the house so the dead are treated to food, clothing, water, cigarettes.

Their skin and flesh are preserved from decaying and rotting - which begins within days of death - by a coating of a chemical solution called formalin, which is a mixture of formaldehyde and water.

The stench is strong, so the family will store lots of dried plants beside the body to mask the odour.

31 Songa passed away more than 40 years ago when he was 70 - and is now given a cigarette by a nephew Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 Yuanita takes a selfie with a relative Allo who died more than 20 years ago Credit: Claudio Sieber - www.claudiosieberphotography.com

31 The dead relatives of the Toraja people are kept at home or in special 'ancestral' homes until their funeral Credit: Barcroft Media

31 This is the first time four cousins meet their dead relative who passed away a decade ago Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 A boy called Adaris, who died 20 years ago, gets new clothing before being returned to the family tomb Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 This body has been adorned with a set of false teeth Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 At the funeral, water buffalo are sacrificed Credit: Barcroft Media

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For the community, a well-preserved body brings good fortune so family go to great lengths to ensure those who have died remain in the best possible shape.

They are then kept wrapped up in blankets in a bed in a room of the house or in wealthier homes, they'll rest in a tongkonan - a traditional Torajan 'ancestral' house with a distinctive boat-shaped roof so the rain water runs off.

31 There are around one million Torajan people, most of whom live in the South Sulawesi region

They'll stay here until the funeral takes place, which in some instances can be years or even decades.

“My mother died suddenly, so we aren’t ready yet to let her go,” a Torajan woman, Yohana Palangda, told National Geographic of how this helps the grieving process.

“I can’t accept burying her too quickly.”

Often families will need to spend time saving in order to be able to afford a proper funeral, which staggeringly can cost anywhere between 700million Indonesian rupiah (£38,000) for lower castes and more than 3 trillion rupiah (£200,000) for upper castes.

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.

31 Nene' Tiku died three days ago Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 Every August, dead relatives are removed from their coffins and cleaned Credit: Barcroft Media

31 Christina Bane passed away at the age of 94 - and her son puts powder on her to preserve her Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 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 Credit: Barcroft Media

31 Bodies are buried with their favourite belongings Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 The bodies are mummified using a chemical solution Credit: Barcroft Media

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 helps raise them to heaven, a place they call Puya.

31 Ma'nene comes to an end on Thanksgiving Day Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 A mummy with long hair is tended to by a relative Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 A boy gives an ancestor a cigarette Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 Families will travel far and wide to be reunited with their loved ones Credit: Barcroft Media

31 This baby had no name Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 Families will also pose for pictures with the bodies Credit: Barcroft Media

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.

31 Martha passed away two years ago Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 This mummy has been given a watch Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 Rice farming is a key occupation in this area of Indonesia Credit: Claudio Sieber

31 The Torajan people do not believe a human connection leaves the body immediately Credit: Barcroft Media

31 Bodies are removed from their coffins every so often Credit: Barcroft Media

Friends and family will travel miles to be reunited with their deceased loved ones and enjoy a feast to mark the occasion.

It is also a time when younger generations can meet their ancestors for the first time.

They will often pose for photographs with the bodies, or take a selfie.

Eventually, the dead will be returned to their coffin and relatives will leave them with new gifts - such as watches, glasses or jewellery.

31 Eventually they are returned to their coffins Credit: Barcroft Media

31 And left with gifts Credit: Barcroft Media

31 Some of the dead are buried in coffins in the cliffs in Sulawesi Credit: Getty - Contributor

31 Wooden effigies represent the deceased who are in coffins in the cliffs Credit: Getty - Contributor

31 Effigies, which show the dead in the cliff, look out over the land Credit: Getty - Contributor

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It is thought that these Torajan death rites first began in 9 AD.

These days, the practices are accompanied by Christian elements - including recitations of the Lord's prayer and biblical readings.

When Dutch missionaries discovered Indonesia in the 16th century, in search of nutmeg and cloves, they introduced the religion to the local Torajan people.

These days, European and Australian tourists now mingle with locals as afterlife processions continue to be embraced through the generations.