MEMBERS of the Vuanirewa clan observed a Tongan ritual at the funeral of the late Adi Ateca Moceiwaqa Ganilau during her funeral at the sacred burial grounds of Vuniduva in Somosomo, Taveuni today (November 28, 2018).
The practise which is a Tongan one and accorded to the nobles and royalty of Tonga is known as ‘biri’ whereby women hold huge bails of Tongan tapa around the burial area until the final burial rites has been observed.
Tongan tapas believed to have been sent in particularly for the burial from Tonga were held up by women of the Vuanirewa clan as man of the ‘Ai Sokula’ performed the final burial rites to the late Adi Ateca.
