Burial, Exumation and Second Burial

The Malagasy people of Madagascar are divided into 18 different tribes, living in distinct regions of the country.  Their dialects are different and in many cases their appearance is different.  Their livelihood for the most part is dependent on the region in which they live and whether they live in the cities or in the agriculture areas.

Common to all Malagasys is an interesting custom for dealing with death.  The first stage is called sasa.  It is a ritual practiced immediately after a death.  The family of the deceased goes to a fast-flowing river and washes all their clothes to remove the contamination of death and then the bodies of the dead are placed in solidly constructed family tombs.   Every five to seven years the bodies in the tombs are exhumed and prepared for a second burial.

The Exumation and Second Burial are major family events.  It is a way for all living family members to come together and communicate with their relatives who have left this life.  The ceremony, called famadihana lasts for days.  We were lucky to witness a portion of the ceremony preceding the exumation from the car during one of our drives. Sarah captured these two photos.

 

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See the woman carrying the straw mat just to the right of the large above ground tomb.

 

It is a huge and very expensive (for the family) ceremony.  As well as members of the immediate and extended family, many guests are invited to participate.  During the events, the family is responsible for all meals and the special ceremony sacrificing the zebu, one of the oldest breeds of cattle in the world, and while it is a principal beast of burden, it is sacrificed and eaten during important ceremonies.

Certain members of the family carry large straw mats as they mix with friends around the tomb.  The mats are used to carry the remains of the dead after they are exhumed.  The eldest family member begins the ceremony.  Once the bodies (mostly bones) are exhumed they are wrapped in clean shrouds and paraded around the village or town for relatives and friends to touch and say hello.  To Malagasys, death is the most important part of life, when a person abandons their mortal form to become a much more powerful and significant ancestor.  

The next day, the Second Burial is performed and all the bodies are returned to the tomb.  This happens EVERY five to seven years.  In between ceremonies  the exterior of the tombs which are very elegant, are kept well maintained and landscaped.  The family will have spent more money on keeping the tomb nice than they will on their own house.