The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu

It is a Fijian legend. There was a beautiful village named Namuana on the island of Kadavu. The chief of Namuana had a lovely wife named Tinaicoboga and charming daughter named Raudalice. The two went fishing often among on the reefs around their home.

Once, Tinaicoboga and Raudalice went farther into the bay than usual. They were so engrossed in fishing that they did not notice the stealthy approach of a war canoe filled with fishermen from neighbouring village of Nabukelevu.

The fishermen took the hostage, bound their hands and tossed them into the bottom of the canoe.

They did not listen to the entreaties of the women. The sea gods took pity on the princesses. A great storm arose and the canoe was tossed about in the sea. The two women were transformed in to giant turtles. To save their lives the fishermen tossed the turtles into the sea.

The two women who had been changed to turtles lived on the waters of the bay. It is their descendants today who rise from the water when the maidens of their village sing songs to them from the cliff.

1. What is a legend?

A legend is a very old story or set of stories from ancient times about famous events or persons. These  stories are not always true.

2. Where does the story “The Scared Turtles of Kandavu” take place?

The legend of the sacred turtles of Kandavu takes place in the Fijian island of Namuana.

3. Fiji:

Fiji, a country in the South Pacific, is an archipelago (group of islands) of more than 300 islands. It’s famed for rugged landscapes, palm-lined beaches and coral reefs with clear lagoons.

4. How, according to the legend, did the warriors of Kadavu save themselves a long journey by sea?

The Fijian islands are surrounded by sea. The legends says that the warriors of Kadavu saved the time for a long journey by sea, by sliding their canoes on rollers up over the narrow neck of land.

5. What is the strange custom observed by the women of Namuana?

The women of Namuana village still observe the ancient tradition of turtle calling. Surprisingly when they chant the song turtle rise to the surface of the ocean.

6. Why do the women of Namuana observe this strange custom?

Once the wife of the Chief of Namuana, Tinaicoboga and her daughter Raudalice went fishing among the reefs of the island. They went further than usual that they stayed away from usual surroundings. They were so engrossed in fishing that they didn’t notice the stealthy approach of a war canoe filled with the fishermen of nearby village of Nabukelevu. The cruel fisher men kidnapped the two and kept them tied at the bottom of the canoe. They ignored the pleadings of the women. The gods of the sea heard their prayers and turned them into turtles. There was a heavy storm and the canoe was tossed about in the sea. To save themselves the fishermen abandoned Tinaicoboga and Raudalice in the sea. The storm subsided and the fishermen continued their journey to their village. The two women turned into turtles lived in the waters of the sea around Namuana. The maidens of Namuana observe the day calling turtles from the sea in memory of the event.

8. The turtles will not rise to the surface of the bay if any member of the nearby village of Nabukelevu is present there. What could be the reason?

   It was the cruel fishermen of Nabukelevu who tried to take away Tinaicoboga, the wife of the chief of Namuana, and her daughter Raudalice. These two women saved themselves by turning into turtles. People of Namuana believe that the turtles that now live in the bay are descendants of these two women. The people of Namuana and Nabukelevu are great rivals. That is why the turtles will not rise to the surface if any member of the village of Nabukelevu is present during the turtle calling by the Namuana maidens.

9. Are all rituals strange? Why?

   Yes, all the rituals strange. They are strange because in all of them some impossible things are described. As they are passed from generation to generation, people go on adding things to the original story according to their imagination.

10. What does the change in weather signify?

    The change in weather signifies that the gods of the sea-answered the prayers of the two women – Tinaicoboga and her daughter Raudalice. The changed weather helped them to escape from the captivity of the fishermen from Nabukelevu.

11. Why are the women dressed in mourning?

    They are dressed in mourning because they had lost the wife of their chief and her daughter – Tinaicoboga and Raudalice. Since they changed into turtles and never returned to their village, they were as good as dead.

12. What do the lines of the song indicate?

    The lines of the song indicate that the women of Namuana love the wife of their chief and her daughter – Tinaicoboga and Raudalice and they also want to have a look at them.

13. Narrate a strange ritual from your locality.

Garudan Thookam:

The history behind attempting to do such strange activity is that, Goddess Kali killed the Demon Darika and after that she was extremely thirsty and was not able to quench her thirst, as a result, Lord Vishnu sent her Garuda which is an eagle to quench the thirst of Goddess Kali but she was not able to quench her thirst until she drank the bleeding blood of Garuda. Hence in order to pray people hang themselves from hooks, the hooks are pierced unto the back of their skin then these are taken out for the procession in the vehicles.  They also dress like Garuda and perform different dance forms. The word Garudan Thookam actually means eagle hanging.

Kuthiyottam:

Kuthiyottam is a ritual art performed in Bhadrakali temples of Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts and is conducted in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February/March).

The rituals of kuthiyottam begin with the raising of the pandal (temporary thatched shed) and Devi’s position (Devisthanam) is marked. The pandal is decorated with leaves of different trees like banyan, mango, areca and coconut. The children participating in Kuthiyottam are taught the dance steps in this pandal. Once the Goddess’ position is marked, nirapara and niranazhi are placed on a plantain leaf in front of Devisthanam. The offerings include coconut, kadhali pazham (a kind of banana), malar (roasted rice), aval (rice flakes), sarkara (jaggery) and kalkandam (rock sugar). Every day deeparadhana and pattu sadya are held at Devisthanams.

Chooralkuthulal is an important item of Kuthiyottam. On the kuthiyottam day, the Chooralkuthu is done in front of Devisthanam. After smearing both sides of the abdomen with ash, chooral (cane) is pierced under the skin by a well-trained person.  Today, instead of cane, gold or silver, coated thread is used. Chooralkuthal is done against the background of instrumental music and screaming. The boys are then taken in procession to the Bhadrakali temple. They reach the temple premise dancing and circumambulate the temple thrice. Coming before the Devi, the cane is removed and submitted before the Devi.