The “Afo tsy maty» : A Sacred Ritual Shared Every Year During the Taom-baovao Malagasy

The Taom-baovao Malagasy marks the start of the Malagasy New Year, celebrated annually at the end of March, according to the lunar calendar. This event usually takes place at the Kianja Masoandro, located at Rovan’i Madagasikara, a site of great importance to the Malagasy people. The inauguration of Taom-baovao begins with an ancestral and spiritual ritual, the sharing of the "Afo tsy maty", a sacred fire that represents purification and the renewal of energies.