[ The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu – Summary
A Fijian Legend
“The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu” is a fascinating Fijian legend connected with an unusual ritual practised by the women of Namuana village on the island of Kadavu in Fiji. The lesson shows how travel can introduce us not only to beautiful places but also to the customs, traditions and beliefs of the people who live there.
Namuana is a beautiful village situated near Vunisea Harbour on Kadavu, about fifty miles by water from Suva, the capital city. The island becomes very narrow near Namuana. According to an old legend, the warriors of Kadavu once pulled their canoes over this narrow stretch of land on rollers to avoid the long sea journey around the island.
Namuana is famous for a strange and wonderful ritual known as turtle calling. The maidens of the village gather on the cliffs overlooking the bay and sing a traditional chant. As they sing, giant turtles rise one by one to the surface of the sea, apparently listening to their song. Fishing for turtles is forbidden in this area. Interestingly, if anyone from the nearby village of Nabukelevu is present, the turtles do not appear and the ceremony has to be abandoned.
An ancient legend explains the origin of this mysterious custom. Long ago, a beautiful princess named Tinaicoboga, wife of the chief of Namuana, lived in the village with her charming daughter Raudalice. The mother and daughter often went fishing together on the reefs around their home.
One day, Tinaicoboga and Raudalice went farther than usual to fish. They became so absorbed in fishing that they failed to notice a large war canoe approaching quietly from Nabukelevu. The canoe was filled with fishermen from the neighbouring village.
The fishermen suddenly jumped out of their canoe and captured the two women. They bound their hands and feet with vines, threw them into the bottom of the canoe and began their journey back to Nabukelevu. Tinaicoboga and Raudalice pleaded for their lives, but the cruel fishermen refused to listen.
The gods of the sea, however, came to the women's rescue. A violent storm suddenly arose. Huge waves tossed the canoe about and almost filled it with water. To their amazement, the fishermen saw that Tinaicoboga and Raudalice had changed into turtles.
Fearing for their own lives, the fishermen picked up the two turtles and threw them into the sea. The moment the turtles entered the water, the storm ended and the sea became calm again. The fishermen then continued their journey to Nabukelevu.
According to the legend, Tinaicoboga and Raudalice continued to live as turtles in the waters near Namuana. The turtles that appear in the bay today are believed to be their descendants. This also explains why the turtles refuse to appear when someone from Nabukelevu is present.
The traditional song sung by the women of Namuana recalls the two women. The singers, dressed in mourning, call upon Raudalice and Tinaicoboga to rise to the surface so that they may see them. The song thus preserves the memory of the mother and daughter and their extraordinary story.
The narrator concludes by saying that people may doubt the truth of the ancient legend, but they cannot easily dismiss the remarkable event itself: when the women of Namuana sing their traditional song, giant turtles really do rise to the surface of the blue waters of the bay.
Central Idea
“The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu” shows the close relationship between legend, tradition, nature and the cultural identity of a community. The ancient story of Tinaicoboga and Raudalice gives meaning to the unusual turtle-calling ritual that has been preserved by the people of Namuana for generations.
Message
Travel is not merely about seeing new places; it also helps us discover the customs, beliefs, legends and traditions that reveal the true cultural identity of a land.]
[Note Capsule Notes Storyboard Malayalam Summary ]
[Prepared By Sindhu P,HSST English,GGHSS Kallai]
A Fijian Legend
“The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu” is a fascinating Fijian legend connected with an unusual ritual practised by the women of Namuana village on the island of Kadavu in Fiji. The lesson shows how travel can introduce us not only to beautiful places but also to the customs, traditions and beliefs of the people who live there.
Namuana is a beautiful village situated near Vunisea Harbour on Kadavu, about fifty miles by water from Suva, the capital city. The island becomes very narrow near Namuana. According to an old legend, the warriors of Kadavu once pulled their canoes over this narrow stretch of land on rollers to avoid the long sea journey around the island.
Namuana is famous for a strange and wonderful ritual known as turtle calling. The maidens of the village gather on the cliffs overlooking the bay and sing a traditional chant. As they sing, giant turtles rise one by one to the surface of the sea, apparently listening to their song. Fishing for turtles is forbidden in this area. Interestingly, if anyone from the nearby village of Nabukelevu is present, the turtles do not appear and the ceremony has to be abandoned.
An ancient legend explains the origin of this mysterious custom. Long ago, a beautiful princess named Tinaicoboga, wife of the chief of Namuana, lived in the village with her charming daughter Raudalice. The mother and daughter often went fishing together on the reefs around their home.
One day, Tinaicoboga and Raudalice went farther than usual to fish. They became so absorbed in fishing that they failed to notice a large war canoe approaching quietly from Nabukelevu. The canoe was filled with fishermen from the neighbouring village.
The fishermen suddenly jumped out of their canoe and captured the two women. They bound their hands and feet with vines, threw them into the bottom of the canoe and began their journey back to Nabukelevu. Tinaicoboga and Raudalice pleaded for their lives, but the cruel fishermen refused to listen.
The gods of the sea, however, came to the women's rescue. A violent storm suddenly arose. Huge waves tossed the canoe about and almost filled it with water. To their amazement, the fishermen saw that Tinaicoboga and Raudalice had changed into turtles.
Fearing for their own lives, the fishermen picked up the two turtles and threw them into the sea. The moment the turtles entered the water, the storm ended and the sea became calm again. The fishermen then continued their journey to Nabukelevu.
According to the legend, Tinaicoboga and Raudalice continued to live as turtles in the waters near Namuana. The turtles that appear in the bay today are believed to be their descendants. This also explains why the turtles refuse to appear when someone from Nabukelevu is present.
The traditional song sung by the women of Namuana recalls the two women. The singers, dressed in mourning, call upon Raudalice and Tinaicoboga to rise to the surface so that they may see them. The song thus preserves the memory of the mother and daughter and their extraordinary story.
The narrator concludes by saying that people may doubt the truth of the ancient legend, but they cannot easily dismiss the remarkable event itself: when the women of Namuana sing their traditional song, giant turtles really do rise to the surface of the blue waters of the bay.
Central Idea
“The Sacred Turtles of Kadavu” shows the close relationship between legend, tradition, nature and the cultural identity of a community. The ancient story of Tinaicoboga and Raudalice gives meaning to the unusual turtle-calling ritual that has been preserved by the people of Namuana for generations.
Message
Travel is not merely about seeing new places; it also helps us discover the customs, beliefs, legends and traditions that reveal the true cultural identity of a land.]
[Note Capsule Notes Storyboard Malayalam Summary ]
[Prepared By Sindhu P,HSST English,GGHSS Kallai]