Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 2:02am
Taboo ends for Tonga royal undertakers
Forty royal undertakers were freed Thursday from a pampered three-month captivity as Tonga's royal family ended 100 days of mourning for the late king. The undertakers, known as "nima tapu" or sacred hands, are forbidden from using their hands after preparing King Tupou IV's body for burial.
The nima tapu spent the mourning period confined to a special house where other people feed them. After an end-of-mourning ceremony, the undertakers are allowed to return home, BBC Online reported.
Since they touched the late king's body, the royal undertakers are strictly forbidden from using their hands for any other purpose until the mourning is over. Today's nima tapu, however, have it better than their, who until 300 years ago would have been strangled or had their hands cut off.
Gift-giving marks Tonga's royal end-of-mourning ceremony, or Pongipongi Tuku. The new King Tupou V has decreed, however, that the traditional gifts of food, pigs and kava, a fermented root drink, should be presented to his mother Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho instead of to himself.
Correspondents say this change may show Tupou V's willingness to reshape Tonga's semi-feudal monarchy. He already promised democratic reforms following pro-democracy riots last month.
The nima tapu spent the mourning period confined to a special house where other people feed them. After an end-of-mourning ceremony, the undertakers are allowed to return home, BBC Online reported.
Since they touched the late king's body, the royal undertakers are strictly forbidden from using their hands for any other purpose until the mourning is over. Today's nima tapu, however, have it better than their, who until 300 years ago would have been strangled or had their hands cut off.
Gift-giving marks Tonga's royal end-of-mourning ceremony, or Pongipongi Tuku. The new King Tupou V has decreed, however, that the traditional gifts of food, pigs and kava, a fermented root drink, should be presented to his mother Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho instead of to himself.
Correspondents say this change may show Tupou V's willingness to reshape Tonga's semi-feudal monarchy. He already promised democratic reforms following pro-democracy riots last month.