
Officials in Madagascar have warned residents not to exhume bodies of dead loved ones and dance with them because the bizarre ritual can cause outbreaks of plague.

The tradition called Famadihana practised by the Malagasy people involves digging up dead relatives, wrapping them in fresh cloth and dancing with them before putting them back underground.

But it has caused concern among health officials at a time when Madagascar is enduring its most lethal outbreak of the plague in years.

Officials in Madagascar have warned residents not to exhume bodies of dead loved ones and dance with them because the bizarre ritual can cause outbreaks of plague

In Madagascar, a sacred ritual sees families exhume the remains of dead relatives, rewrap them in fresh cloth and dance with the corpses

People carry a body wrapped in a sheet after taking it out from a crypt, as they take part in a funerary tradition called the Famadihana

Since August, the disease has infected more than 1,100 people, with 124 deaths.

Experts have long observed that plague season coincides with the period when famadihana ceremonies are held from July to October.

Willy Randriamarotia, the health ministry chief of staff, said: 'If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for a famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body.'

To limit the danger, rules dictate that plague victims cannot be buried in a tomb that can be reopened and instead their remains must be held in an anonymous mausoleum.

But the local media has reported several cases of bodies being exhumed covertly.

A plague outbreak sweeping Madagascar has prompted warnings that the ritual, known as the turning of the bones, presents a contamination risk

People dance, sing and play music as they carry the bodies of their ancestors during a funerary tradition called the Famadihana

Despite the serious risks publicised by the authorities, few in Madagascar question the turning ceremonies.

'I don't want to imagine the dead like forgotten objects. They gave us life,' said Helene Raveloharisoa, a regular at the ritual.

'I will always practise the turning of the bones of my ancestors - plague or no plague. The plague is a lie.'

Participant Josephine Ralisiarisoa insisted the plague risk had been exaggerated.

'The government in power is short of money for the next presidential poll (in 2018), so they invent things to get cash from lenders,' said Ralisiarisoa.

'I have participated in at least 15 famadihana ceremonies in my life. And I've never caught the plague.'

People in Madagascar believe the ritual honours their dead relatives, who can be 'turned' every five, seven or nine years

Municipal officers clear the ground which blocks the entrance of a family vault during the funerary tradition

Isabel Malala Razafindrakoto carries the wrapped body of her son, who died aged just three years old

The unique custom, originating among communities that live in Madagascar's high plateaux, draws crowds every winter to honour the dead and to honour their mortal wishes

As part of the tradition, festivalgoers leave the bodies of their ancestors on a straw carpet

The unique custom, originating among communities that live in Madagascar's high plateaux, draws crowds every winter to honour the dead and to honour their mortal wishes.

'It's one of Madagascar's most widespread rituals,' historian Mahery Andrianahag told AFP at a festival in Ambohijafy, a village outside the capital Antananarivo.

'It's necessary to assure cosmic harmony... it satisfies our desire to respect and honour the ancestors so that they can be blessed and one day return.'

At the head of the procession, 18-year-old Andry Nirina Andriatsitohaina eagerly awaited the big moment as a uniformed band played on loud trumpets.

'I am extremely proud to go to rewrap the bones of my grandmother and all of our ancestors. I will ask them for blessings and success in my school leavers' exams,' he said.

In front of the family mausoleum, the assembled men dug into the earth and opened the tomb's door as women and children looked on.

'It's one of Madagascar's most widespread rituals,' historian Mahery Andrianahag told AFP at a festival in Ambohijafy, a village outside the capital Antananarivo

For Madagascans, the famadihana ceremony is an intense celebration accompanied by music, dancing and singing, fuelled by alcoholic drinks

One by one, the wrapped remains were carried out into the open and carefully placed on a mat where they were rewrapped, or 'turned' in the new shrouds

Two women sit on the ground and hold the body of one of their ancestors as they take part in a funerary tradition

One by one, the wrapped remains were carried out into the open and carefully placed on a mat where they were rewrapped, or 'turned' in the new shrouds.

Oly Ralalarisoa, 45, was overcome with emotion.

'I am so happy to be able to exhume my great-great-great-grandfather. It means that their descendants can ask for blessings for the next nine years.'

Relatives invite all their fellow villagers to attend the ceremony and to take part in the procession as well as musical and food festivities, but the wrapping of the body is a purely family affair.

The dead may be 'turned' more than once but only every five, seven or nine years, and can be wrapped in several shrouds if different parts of the family or loved ones want to honour them.

The ceremony sees the wrapped remains carried out into the open and carefully placed on a mat where they are rewrapped, or 'turned' in the new shrouds

Close by, Isabel Malala Razafindrakoto had tears in her eyes as she held the wrapped body of her son, who died aged just three years old.

'I'm happy to once again see my son and to fulfil my duty,' she said.

The customary ritual, rather than a religious rite, can be shocking for some, but for those taking part, it is an intense celebration accompanied by music, dancing and singing, fuelled by alcoholic drinks.

As the gathering in the Ambohijafy cemetery drew to a close, the bodies were carefully returned to their resting places after one last dance.

As soon as the ritual was over, the mats on which the bodies were laid were pulled up.

Veteran participants will store them under their mattresses until the next famadihana.

Looking after the mats is often seen in Madagascar as bringing good luck. But some doctors warn that they can also transmit germs and infections.