subject: Unblemished Tradition At Navala Village [print this page] Navala Village is one of the unique sights to be experienced in Fiji. The scenic beauty of the surrounding area is exceptional, set amidst mountain ranges by the shores of the picturesque Ba River. The village homes are constructed in authentic traditional fashion, with thatched roofs and woven bamboo walls. The bures, as the houses are called locally, are single room structures; toilets and kitchens are separate huts detached from the main living quarters.
As early as 1950 the inhabitants of the village made a decision to eliminate modern construction techniques and to build their homes in the age-old manner. Young adults were taught to respect the traditional construction techniques and master the art of bure making. The result is that Navala is the sole surviving thatched village in the whole of Fiji. The sole cement constructions are the school, church and a handful of huts containing generators.
Taking a leisurely walk around the village is an unforgettable experience. Visitors must first introduce themselves to a native, who will take them to the headman of the village to whom you must pay a small fee which is used in the maintenance of the village. The visitors will be impressed by the superior constructions belonging to the important individuals of the village, which feature intricately constructed roofs and face the village green in an orderly line. The common people live in more modest, less orderly bures on the Ba Rivers lower slopes. The visitor may also explore the surrounding grassy mountains containing secluded caves, where the residents of the village took refuge in periods of war.
The visitors can participate in a traditional Fijian welcoming ceremony, known as a Yaqona ceremony where the visitor will be introduced and accepted upon partaking of the traditional drink of Fiji, which is made from the roots of the Yaqona tree.
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