LES September 26,27, Lohantaoño Iraisan’ny Malagasy, the New Year of the Malagasy will be celebred in Ambilobe. Under the impetus of the SIRFA (Sehatra Itambaran’ny Raiamandreny Faritanin’Antsiranana, a provincial platform made up of elites, intellectuals and traditionalists of the young province of Antsiranana, this event is the result of a deep reflection, of meticulous study as well as of an in-depth thought of active members and the traditional proponents on the whole.
On the program: Friday, September 26, preceded by a large carnival, a spokesperson will be held in front of the district square at 10 a.m., followed by a visit to the stands. In the afternoon, delegations will go to the Andavak’Antantsa and Ampasibe sites at 2 p.m. At 4 p.m., cultural shows and competitions will liven up at the “tennis court”. The next day at 8 a.m., place at the conference-debate at the Diana restaurant. The ceremony will receive its end at 5.30 p.m.
It should be noted that this festivity is not at its first. In 2023, the Ampanjaka, the Lonake, the Tangalamena, the Andriambaventy responded during the national celebration in Diego-Suarez. Moreover, a stele was built in place of independence, a historic place.
This time, the cultural capital Antakarana will welcome the followers of Malagasy culture. Representatives of all regions and the competent authorities will be invited. During the finalization of the preparation, on Friday, September 12, in his home, the president of the SIRFA, Professor Kalobotra stressed that the Lohataoño Malagasy symbolizes the National Concord. “This desired cohesion is reflected by this ancestral ritual”. According to oral tradition, Lohataona or Lohataoño marks the beginning of spring, “a new year of harvest”. Included in the country’s calendar in the early 1900s by researchers from the Malagasy Academy, it took more than six decades that a fringe of the population commemorates. So, this circle bringing together the Raiamandreny tries to make the lost shine the culture of yesteryear … Indeed, the members of the SIRFA, beyond the opening, the arrangement of sharing immemorial wisdom, plan to prepare rangles in order to perpetuate good manners. “We have a distant vision. Since culture is one of the pillars of a region, of the whole nation, it is our duty to transmit to the young generation, “added the leader of the circle.
Unlike the festivities flooding the Diana region, Sirfa’s activity has a determined end: protecting, saving, maintaining, bequeathing custom. Long -term work, of course, but Pr Kalobotra and his brothers in conviction more than believe it!
ISS HERIDINY