According to Toraja tradition, their ancestors came down from heaven on stairs. Ever since, the people maintain contact with their ancestors and heaven through their ritual practices.The world is organized into three levels: heaven, humanity (on earth), and the underworld.The Toraja commonly separate rituals for life purposes and for death. During colonial times, missionaries discouraged them from following life rituals, but they kept more of their death rituals.Nonetheless, the Toraja still maintain some rituals relating to their living spaces. They call their homes tongkonan. These buildings are shaped very distinctively, with rising roofs.Everyone in a family is compelled to participate in rituals relating to these homes, since they maintain a relationship with ancestors.The Toraja are most famous for their funerary activities. These rituals are also a means for people to demonstrate their wealth and influence.When somebody dies, there will be a feast for the village. The more prosperous the family, the bigger the feast.We may recall that in Javanese religion, the slametan feast is similarly important as a ritualized setting for bringing together the community (although not at all limited to funerals).Because it takes a lot of money to sponsor such an activity among the Toraja, the actual ceremony may happen months or years after one’s death, so they can first save funds for the occasion.