| Traditionally, indigenous Fijian people believed
in many deities under the supremacy of Degei, the serpent god. Villagers
also believed in the ongoing presence and influence of their ancestors
(vu). Chiefs and priests possessed mana, the spiritual force
of the gods. To win the approval of their ancestors and ensure success
in war, tribes performed elaborate rituals, including cannibalism. To eat
an enemy was to consume his spirit, the highest form of dishonour.
Today, most indigenous Fijians are Christian. The largest community is Methodist, followed by Catholic. Most Fijian Indians are Hindus, but there are many Muslims as well. A small percentage of Fijian Indians are Sikh. The Sikh religion combines elements of Islam and Hinduism. Fijian Christians attend church services regularly and often meet for Bible study and other church activities. Most still follow the conservative code of behaviour introduced by the missionaries. However, many Christians still believe in the vu. In the formal yaqona ceremony, they experience kava as a sacred link to their ancestral spirits. |
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| Hindus believe in reincarnation and accept that
the consequences of their deeds will follow them throughout their subsequent
lives. They worship Brahma, who takes many forms. Followers of Islam believe
in submission to Allah, the almighty God, and follow the teachings of the
prophet Mohammed. Their holy book, the Qur'an, sets out Islamic
law, which governs all aspects of people's lives.
Both indigenous Fijians and Fijian Indians perform a fire-walking ritual as a symbol of purification. The participants prepare by living away from the village for two weeks, abstaining from sex and following a special diet. The Hindu ceremony takes place during a full moon in July or August. On the day of the fire walk, priests whip the men and pierce their bodies with sharp needles. The devotees enter a trance and walk several times across glowing embers, then return to the temple for worship. Their feet do not burn. The indigenous Fijian ritual is held on the island of Beqa, just south of Viti Levu. Men tie tree ferns around their ankles and walk across hot stones. The anklets do not catch fire and the men's feet do not burn. |
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