Sulawesi Surprise! : Baby Trees

It was raining when we reached the Megalith Complex in Tana Toraja. Armed with an umbrella, we trudged down from the bus and made our way into the complex. The megaliths were by no mean the only attraction there. In fact, we were there more to see the Baby Trees. We did not have to walk far to catch a glimpse of what was supposed to be the smallest of the Torajan graves. In Tana Toraja, when a baby dies, a mother would cut a hole in a tree and place the child inside. A tree may be used for a few babies and for decades too. One could easily identify the baby trees by the scars on the tree trunks.  40

Can you see the scar on the baby graves?



Traveling Tip: Enjoy the trees!

Comments

Thomas C B Chua said…
Very unique practice and highly emotional, too. What is the significance of burying into a tree?
footiam said…
The tree is living and would nurture the baby. I think I heard it explained this way.