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The ceremony of <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-right:10px;"><tr><td valign="top">[[Image:Betsileo_07.jpg|189px|none|thumb|[[FamadihanaMorarano]] - ''turning of village in the bones'' was introduced to the Betsileo people by the Merina during the time of Queen {{nowrap begin}}Ranavalona ITsaranoro valley]]</td><td valign="top">[[Image:Betsileo_08.{{nowrap end}} Like many other ethnical groups, also the jpg|189px|none|thumb|Traditional Betsileo are superstitious. For example, it is house]]</td><td valign="top">[[fadyImage:Betsileo_09.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Young Betsileo woman]] to start a meal before the father or the most honourable person is present. For a husband it is fady to wear a lamba (traditional blanket) thrown over his shoulder during the pregnancy of his wife.</td></tr></table>
Betsileo literally means ''The many invincibles''. About 12% of the population of Madagascar are Betsileo. The majority of them live in the central highlands south of the [[Merina]] around [[Fianarantsoa]]. About 150,000 have their home in the Betsiboka region.
[[File:Bara_people_01Betsileo_01.jpg|600px|none|thumb|Bara women selling drinks outside Betsileo man in the small town of early morning hours near [[RanohiraMorarano]]village]]
The Betsileo culture is similar to their Merina neighbours. The Betsileo are reputedly the best farmers in Madagascar and therefore well known for their very good knowledge of rice cultivation. Irrigated, terraced rice paddies are characteristic scenery around Betsileo villages. Men are traditionally wrapped in colourful blankets, women have often shiny gold teeth and single . Single boys will put place a comb in their hair , whilst single girls will use hair clips to inform potential partners that they are looking for a wifeavailable.
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-right:10px;"><tr>
<td valign="top">[[Image:Betsileo_02.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Betsileo woman with shiny gold teeth (right)]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[Image:Betsileo_03.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Betsileo woman with colourful hair clips]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[Image:Betsileo_04.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Young farmers on the way to their field]]</td></tr></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-right:10px;"><tr>
<td valign="top">[[Image:Betsileo_05.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Betsileo woman sorting out the rice]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[Image:Betsileo_rice_field_01.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Terraced rice field]]</td>
<td valign="top">[[Image:Bara_people_07Betsileo_06.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Traditional farming]]</td><td valign="top">[[Image:Bara_people_04.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Traditional farmingBetsileo women pounding the rice]]</td></tr></table> The ceremony of [[Famadihana]] - ''turning of the bones'' - was introduced to the Betsileo people by the Merina during the time of Queen {{nowrap begin}}Ranavalona I.{{nowrap end}} Like many other ethnical groups, the Betsileo are also superstitious. For example, it is [[fady]] to start a meal before the father or the most honourable person is present. For a husband it is fady to wear a lamba (traditional blanket) thrown over his shoulder during the pregnancy of his wife.
