Famadihana and Other Rituals

                                            Famadihana and Other Rituals
Understanding the text: Main ideas (page- 67)
1.       Madagascar is an island located in the Indian Ocean; it is 400km from the East of Africa past Mozambique Channel, 1300km from the equator and 7000km from the South Pole. The Tropic of Capricorn crosses its southern part. The area is approximately 597000 square kilometers.
2   In the early 19th century the majority of the island was united and it was ruled as the kingdom of Madagascar by a series of nobles.
3.    When a child is about to be circumcised, all close relatives and friends are invited, a big feast is prepared, and people party at night.
4.      Families in Madagascar have their own Tombstone that their ancestors had built. These tombstones are huge, very spacious and well decorated with many stone-beds that can accommodate the dead bodies of generations after generations.  The dead are described as ‘Gods on Earth’
6It reaffirms the link between dead and the living.
7.       A large number of relatives, guests including the spirits of ancestors are invited to a feast given by members of a family or lineage. So it is considered as a family reunion.
8.       For five years.
9.       The tomb offer an insight into the rich culture of Madagascar. These are fine examples of rich historical tradition of the country. So these tombs have become popular tourist attractions.
10.   South Western Corner.
11.   Fady are taboos(considered unacceptable or improper by community) on the use of certain substances.
12.   The supremacy of Christianity in the central highlands led to the demise of idol worship. Christians have their dead blessed at a church before burying them and invite the pastor to attend a famidihana and place a cross on top of the tomb. Christians argue that the dead have become Christians themselves and continue to be the arbiters of right and wrong.

Looking at Language: Writing Style (page -70)
Rituals:
1.       Engagement was the actual wedding for the Malagasy couple. They celebrate it grandly.
2.       Another example of Malagasy traditions and customs is circumsion. When a child is about to be circumcised, all close relatives and friends invited, a big feast is prepared.
3.       Famidihana is another rich tradition which reaffirms the link between the living and dead.

Taboos:
1.       To deny hospitality to a stranger is a fady or taboo, as is the act of refusing this hospitality,
2.       It is wrong to stir in the doorway of a house while the rice is sprouting, since the door of the house is compared to the ‘gateway’ of birth and by blocking it, one might impede the birth of rice.

Looking at Language: Vocabulary by theme(page- 71)
Famidihana, razana, velona iray tranto, maty iray fasana, Zanahary, Andriamanitra, ombiasy, mpanandro, Vintana, fady,

Literary Concept: Theme.(page – 71,72,73)

1.       The people of Madagascar originated from Indonesia, Malaysia, Polynesia and Eastern Africa. The island of Madagascar was divided into many parts and of many types. In the early 19th century, the majority of the island was united and it was ruled as the kingdom of Madagascar by a series of nobles of the Merina ethnic group. It collapsed when the island was conquered and absorbed into the French colonial empire in 1896, and it gained independence in 1960.
2.       Malagas is the name of the people who live in Madagascar. Malagasy is also the name of the national and official language. The population of Madagascar constituted in 18 ethic groups who lives in 22 regions.
3.       There is no particular age for enagements. Engagement in Madagascar is done with a big celebration in front of relatives and friends from both sides. During the celebration, close relatives from both sides are invited, the groom to be brings a gift for the future bride’s parent as an honour and thanks for raising a beautiful daughter, and the engagement ring for the bride to be.
4.       They play the role of intermediary between the supreme god and humankind,and are viewed as having the power to affect the fortunes of the living for good and evil.
5.       The supremacy of Christianiy in the central highlands led to the demise of idol worship. The Christian belief in the power of transcendent and somewhat distant. God has blended with older beliefs in the closeness and intimacy of the dead as spiritual beings.

Culture Point: Famidihana (16,17,18,19,20)

1.       On the day of Famadihana the tombs are opened and the bodies are carried out from the tombs. They are rolled up in new mats. As soon as the body is taken out, men stay outside the tomb and dances around the tombs. When the dance stops, the body is laid on the floor. Members of the family of the deceased surround the body and they washes and  provides new clothes to the dead. They offer gifts to the deceased. Laughter mingles with tears of joy and sorrow on this occasion. It also involves moving the bones of the dead buried outside the family tomb into the ancestors tomb.

Culture Point: Fady(page- 74)
1.       To deny hospitality to a stranger is a fady, as is the act of refusing the hospitality.
2.       It is wrong to stir in the doorway of a house while the rice is sprouting, since the door of the house is compared to the gateway of birth.

Culture Point: Space and Time( page -74)
1.       Different values and different forces, either active or passive are attributed to each fraction of time. They believe East being superior to West and North being superior to South. North East is believed to be the most favourable direction. People build their houses on the North South axis and reserve the North Eastr corner for prayers.

Culture Point: Non Fiction(page – 75)

1.       There are certain facts which can be taken forgranted. One such is engagement in Madagascar and the other is circumsion. But Famidihana is an unusual tradition practiced in Madagascar. There is no corroboration for this unusual fact. So it is difficult to believe this practice of Malagasy.

Literary Concept: Theme(page – 76)

1.       It covers the unusual tradition that is practiced by Malagasies and it also brings into light rituals and traditions that are shared in our country.

Literary Concept: Metaphor(page – 77)

1.       Metaphor is a phrase applied to something to which it is not literally applicable, but suggest resemblance. The concept of Fady often expresses metaphorical sense. According to one fady it is wrong to sit in the doorway of a house while the rice is sprouting. The doorway of a house is no way connected with the rice that is sprouting but it is compared to the ‘gateway of birth’ and by blocking it , one might impede the ‘birth’ of the rice.


Reading Journal:
1.       Madagascar is an island located in the Indian Ocean. The capital city of Madagascar is Antannarivo. It’s important trade harbours are Tamatove and Majunga. The island gained its independence in 1960 from French. It has 18 ethinic groups who live in 22 regions. Malagasy is the name of the people who live in Madagascar.
Most of the beliefs in Madagascar fit with the local customs. Some of the beliefs are - When two people are in love or ready to move onto marriage, they must first get engaged. Engagement was the actual wedding for the Malagasy people. Another example of the Malagasy tradition and custom is circumcision. When a child is about to be circumcised, all close relatives and friends are invited, a big feast is prepared, and people party all night. At dawn, the child is taken to a hospital to be circumcised.

Another Malagasy tradition is the way people are buried. Families in Madagascar have their own tombstone. These tombstones are huge, very spacious and well-decorated. A dead person of Malagasy should be buried in his or her family tomb. This ceremony is called Famidihana.