The Sambatra is the collective circumcision feast organized every five years by the Antambahoaka tribe in Mananjary and in the neighbouring cities and villages : Mahela, Tsaravary, Ambohinera, Manakara . The Sambatra which means joy and happiness, translation of the etymological sense of the word sambatra , is an important traditional ceremony during which all the young boys of the region are circumcized and become then courageous men " Mahery " therefore happy and for that reason worthy of their ancestors. Once circumcized , they are admitted in the adults world and adopted by the tribe

 

The " betsa betsa " local rum made from the sugar cane poured out , uncles of children to circumcize have the duty and the obligation to fill all days and this during all the ceremony the barrel that is placed in the " Tranobe " or royal hut . After the ritual , the rum will be shared to all the warriors without forgeting the guests . No other event will be allowed to hinder the progress of the Sambatra : in case of death in a family it is not allowed to cry the defunct so as not to offend Gods during the festivities .

 

With the Antambahoaka as with the neighbouring tribes, the Antemora and the Antanosy, the Arab past traces are still pronounced , however with the Antambahoaka the christianity has infiltrated into the Sambatra ritual . Indeed, this ceremony has no sense if actors do not refer to the Pentateuch , the five books of Moses, and to the bible.

 

It belongs to the Antamabahoaka kings to fix the date of the ceremony and to define the rite modality that takes place in general in cold season so as to facilitate the healing. Respecting the Sabbath day , the final ceremony of the Sambatra takes place generally on Friday considered as lucky day . The day before , the tribe starts " the desert crossing " to go to the river mouth to ask the ancestors blessing and the following day in the early morning the young children will be placed on the skull of a no castrated zebu before the circumcision .

 

Taking photographies are not authorized during the actual circumcision , the child to circumcize being assimilated to a woman in the process to give birth and with the Antambahoaka the transgression of this rule constitutes a real offends and would not to be tolerated . The manner to end festivities varies according to places and tribes.