Carved wooden Torajan art - each panel is a stylised representation of a wish for goodwill of some form. The center bottom panel, for example, represents the wish that the family should possess buffalo in plenty. Tana Toraja (the land of Toraja) is a region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The population is estimated at between 300,000 to 600,000 people, comprised mostly of ethnic Torajans. The capital of the region is Rantepao.
Although some of the population is christianized, or subscribe to the Muslim faith, at least on the surface, they maintain many animist traditions, especially their funerary rites, which featuring the slaughter of buffalo, a sacred animal and pigs, a sign of wealth. The Sa'dan Toraja claimed their religion, Aluk To Dolo, as part of the Hindu religion in order to defend themselves against the conversion to christainity.
Their inhabitations are famous for their horn-shaped rooves on their traditional houses, elaborate funeral rites, and wooden carving.
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