In the lush landscapes of Madagascar’s central highlands, the Merina tribe engages in a sacred and unique ritual known as Famidihana or ‘the turning of the bones.’...CONTINUE READING
This profound ceremony, occurring every five to seven years, involves the exhumation of deceased ancestors, turning it into a joyous family reunion and celebration.
During Famidihana, living family members delicately remove burial garments from the corpses, carefully wrapping them in fresh silk shrouds.
The festivities commence, creating an atmosphere where guests drink, converse, and even dance with their forebears.
Anthropologist Dr. Miora Mamphionona explains, “We wrap the bodies and dance with the corpses while they decompose.”
As the sun sets, the bodies are reverently returned to the tomb, positioned upside down, and the crypt is sealed for the next five to seven years.
This ritual holds profound significance for the Malagasy people, who believe their ancestors act as intermediaries between the living and God, possessing the power to influence events on Earth.
The fusion of Christianity and traditional beliefs is prevalent among various ethnic groups in Madagascar.
Unlike the conventional concepts of heaven and hell, the Malagasy envision a second life after the complete decomposition of bones, similar to the living one.
The transition to the next life doesn’t occur immediately; the deceased linger in the realm of the living until their bodies undergo full decomposition.
In the Malagasy society, there are only two classes—the living and the ancestors. Unexhumed bodies, having not yet participated in Famidihana, fall into neither category.
Historian Andrianahaga Mahery emphasizes that meeting the ancestors is a moment of happiness and joy, and sorrow is not permitted.
The Famidihana process initiates when an ancestral spirit appears in a dream to a senior family member, expressing the need for new clothes.
A traditional astrologer, known as an Ombiasy, then consults the zodiac to determine the auspicious day to open and close the tomb.
This two-day celebration draws guests and relatives from afar, with contributions often in the form of money or alcohol.
The hosting family invests significantly in the tomb and festivities, as it symbolizes their identity. The tombs, constructed partially underground by the Merina ethnic group, house ancestors’ bodies on shelves, wrapped in silk cloth.
The celebration concludes before nightfall, as the Merina tribe harbors a fear of the negative energy and malevolent forces associated with the night.
The bones are returned to the tomb before sunset, with Mamphionona explaining, “The sun is the source of our energy.”
The bodies are buried alongside monetary and alcoholic offerings, placed upside down to signify the completion of the life and death cycle.
Mamphionona adds a crucial detail—when the deceased is initially removed from the tomb, they are led feet first.
However, after the completion of Famidihana, the bones are returned headfirst, symbolizing their existence in a new world as revered ancestors.
The Famidihana ritual not only showcases the Malagasy people’s unique beliefs about life, death, and the afterlife but also underscores the profound importance they place on maintaining a spiritual connection with their ancestors through this cyclical celebration…CONTINUE READING>>