The “Sambatra", which literally means joyful or happy, is a ritual of collective circumcision. It is a celebration that takes place every 7 years in the Antambahoaka ethnic group. It is through this ritual that young boys become and are seen as real men in their community. Once circumcised, these young boys are called "Mahery"—which means strong men— because of their boldness and strength. Then, they can be also worthy to bear the name of their ancestors.

During the whole month of the Sambatra, the monarchic power of the Ampanjaka (rulers) is exalted and people are reconciled if there have been conflicts. The Antambahoaka people are counted, and indeed all male children born within the last seven years are meant to be circumcised if their parents wish to raise them in the rank of Antambahoaka.

A large parad is organized during the event and re-enacts the journey of Raminia— the ancestor of the Antambahoaka people— from the Mecca to Mananjary. During this event, certain fady or taboos are observed, such as wearing black clothes, sandals and shoes when walking on the sacred land of the tranobe (royal houses of the Ampanjaka) and during the procession. Women are required to have their hair braided. No one is allowed to wear short-sleeved clothes, nor to be bearded or have long hair as far as men are concerned.

Every Thursday of the month of Sambatra marks a pause in the celebrations, because it is considered as a nefarious day by the Antambahoaka tribe. During the Sambatra, a mozinga— a barrel filled with betsa (traditional drink) that anyone can drink— is carried once arrived at the tranobe. However, this mozinga should not be emptied before the circumcisions because its exhaustion proclaims the end of the Sambatra. Several days before the circumcision, the Tora-sitona — a power challenge between the fathers of the children to be circumcised and the uncles—is organized. The uncles throw some wooden pieces when they arrive at the beach side and the fathers, with bare hands, receive and then throw them back.

During the first three weeks of the month, women visit the 12 tranobe of Mananjary and the inhabitants of each tranobe pay courtesy visits to each other, in barefoot as a sign of purity, by wearing ceremonial clothes. After being dressed, the Ampanjaka of the Ramalaza tranobe leaves his palace to bless the zebus to be sacrificed.

Sources: Madagascar Green Island Discovery, MotMalgache, JSTOR.org