Lanu Kilikili ki Mo‘unga on 100th night of mourning for Prince Fatafehi Tu‘ipelehake [1]
Thursday, July 1, 1999 - 11:00. Updated on Monday, January 4, 2016 - 17:53.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.
Photos © Pesi Fonua / Matangi Tonga.
The end of the 100th night of mourning following the death of Prince Fatafehi Tu‘ipelehake was marked with a "Lanu Kilikili ki Mo‘unga" ceremony at Mala‘ekula the Royal Tombs on July 27.
Lanu Kilikili ki Mo‘unga is the decoration of the grave with black volcanic pebbles which have been washed in salt water and scented with coconut oil. The ritual of preparing the kilikili and the decorating of the grave was carried out by the Ha‘a Tufunga under the leadership of the Matapule Lauaki. The Ha‘a Tufunga are the attendants at the Tongan paradise, or afterworld, Pulotu.