The Famadihana ritual or ‘Turning of the bones’ is a practice followed by the peopleof Madagascar. Do you know: The origins of this ritual are only as old as the 17th century. The Famadihana ritual takes place every 7 years, when the bones and bodies of the deceased members of a family are dug out […]
There are many customs revolving around weddings in the Tidong community of Malaysia. Do you know: If the groom arrives late at his wedding, he has to pay a penalty in the form of jewellery. The Tidong community has another sweet custom where once the ceremony is done, a curtain is raised between the bride
The Bathroom Ban is a custom that is part of the Tidong community that resides in Sandakan city, Malaysia. Do you know: As a part of the ritual, the newlywedded couple is not allowed to clear their bowels or even urinate for 3 days and nights! Very little food and water is allowed to the
Scientific name : Microtus arvalis orcadensis Family : Cricetidae Native to : Northern coast of Scotland Interesting fact : A vole tunnel is a circle of eaten grass. Conservation status : Endangered It has a stocky body with a blunt, rounded snout, short pale fur, small ears, a tail shorter than its body length and
The Tooth Filing ritual is a rite of passage custom in the Balinese culture in Indonesia. Do you know: The custom of tooth filing on the islandof Bali even predates the arrival of Hinduism to the island (5th Century BC). While many would assume, that a tooth filing practice would involve sharpening of the teeth,
Common name : Asian ape Scientific name : Pongo Family : Hominidae Native to : Indonesia and Malaysia Interesting fact : Its name in Malay means ‘forest person’. Conservation status : Critically Endangered They have a coat of reddish-brown, and black hairless face. They spend most of their time on trees, and have a diet
The Death Ritual of the Yanomami tribe ofthe Amazon involves endocannibalism as away to keep the person alive. Do you know: The Yanomami tribe does not consider death to be a ‘natural process’. Instead, they believe that a rival tribe sent an evil spiritto kill the tribe member. The Yanomami tribe has a ritual whereby
The Thaipusam Festival is celebrated according to the Tamil Calendar in places with a large Tamil population. Do you know: Over the years, the festival has become more dramatic with devotes spearing their bodies with hooks and spears and even pulling large wagons with ropes attached to their backs. The Thaipusam Festival celebrates Lord Murugan’s
Common name : Common opossum, American marsupials, Virginia opossum Scientific name : Didelphimorphia Family : Didelphidae Native to : North America Interesting fact : They are immune against the poison of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and pit vipers. There are more than 60 different species of an opossum. They have white and grey fur. They measure 76
The Bullet Ant Gloves are an initiation rite that forms a part of the culture of the Satere-Mawe people of Brazil. Do you know: To complete the initiation ritual, the candidate undertakes the ritual a total of 20 times over a span of time. This test must be undertaken by the boys of the Satere-Mawe
Common name : Forest giraffe, Zebra giraffe Scientific name : Okapia johnstoni Family : Giraffidae Native to : Ituri rainforest, Central Africa Interesting fact : It was once referred to as the ‘African Unicorn’. Conservation status : Endangered Okapis have reddish dark backs, with striking horizontal white stripes on the front and back legs that
Common name : Inayala Scientific name : Nyala angasii or Tragelaphus angasii Family : Bovidae Native to : Southern Africa Interesting fact : Only males have spiral and yellow-tipped horns. Conservation status : Least Concern The coat is rusty brown in females and juveniles, and dark brown or slate grey, often tinged with blue, in
La Tomatina is an annual tomato-throwing festival organized in Buñol, Spain. Do you know: This Festival began in the 1940s, when disgruntled town people rioted, by attacking the councilmen of the town with tomatoes. Participants at the Tomatina Festival enjoy the chaotic atmosphere in line with the rules and regulations, including keeping with the time-limit
Common name : Banded anteater, Marsupial anteater or Walpurti Scientific name : Myrmecobius fasciatus Family : Myrmecobiidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : Although they are marsupials yet they don’t have pouches. Conservation status : Endangered Its diet consists of termites and ants. It has a soft-grey to reddish-brown coat, a red area on
Common name : Nilgiri ibex Scientific name : Nilgiritragus hylocrius Family : Bovidae Native to : Southern and Western parts of India Interesting fact : Males develop a light grey area on their backs and are thus called ‘saddlebacks’. Conservation status : Endangered They have grey-brown fur with light, pale underbellies and curved horns. Mature