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Antakarana kingdom (Madagascar)

Last modified: 2005-07-30 by jarig bakker
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[Antakarana flag] by Jarig Bakker, 12 Jun 2005 See also:

Antakarana kingdom

The Embassy of Madagascar in Belgium gives the list of the ritual ceremonies in Madagascar.
Every five years in winter (dry season), the Tsangan festival takes place. It is the biggest Antakarana festival, aimed at consecrating the royal power and strengthen the family links among the descendants of  King Tsimiharo.
The festival includes:
- the Mast Feast
- a pilgrimage to Mitsio island and Ankarana caves
- the choice, cutting and shaping ot the mast
- the sacrifice of cattle
- on Friday and for several days, dances, songs and shots
- the erection of the mast
- the raising of the national flag of Madagascar
- the raising of the King's flag, "a white field with a red crescent and star"
The mast represents masculinity and the King, the soil represents fecundity and the mother earth.
Source: <http://www.ambassademadagascar.be/Madagascar/pages/ceremonies.htm>

The listed place names are Antakarana, Sakalava, Ambatoharanana, and Ambilobe, in the "faritany" (province?) of Antsiranana.
Antsiranana, formerly Diégo-Suarez, is located at  the northern point of Madagascar. The island of Nosy Mitsio is located c. 30 km off the north-western coast of Madagascar.
Therefore, the flag might have belonged to a kingdom established in the northern part of Madagascar.
Ivan Sache, 11 Jun 2005

According to this website it did.The flag is as described by Ivan: white with a red crescent pointing upwards belo