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Antakarana kingdom (Madagascar)
Last modified: 2005-07-30 by jarig bakker
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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