This is called “Qaloqalovi” or Traditional Ceremony of Welcome. (Fijian pronunciation would be GarLo-Garlo-VEE. This is a very solemn ceremony and out of respect everyone who are present must sit crossed legged on the ground or floor with absolute silence. Only the Spokesman’s voice while welcoming the Chief Guest would be heard. This Ceremony is performed as a ceremony of welcome or during auspicious occasions. 

This is the presentation of Yaqona (yah-GOH-nah), pharmacologically known as kavakava. The presentation of the Yaqona is called the “Sevusevu” (se-VOOH-se-VOOH). The tanoa (TAR-noah) large wooden bowl carved from the trunk of the vesi tree (intsia bijuga) is placed in front of the honored guest at a respectful distance with the sau (cord of plaited coconut fibre with cowrie shells attached) extended towards the position of honor. Participating men dressed in traditional costumes sit themselves around the tanoa – positions vary in different parts of Fiji, but there is always one seated directly behind the tanoa whose responsibility is to prepare the yaqona. Water is poured from an earthenware vessel or bamboo container, and the grated or pounded yaqona placed in bundle of vau ( VAR -woo) (hibiscus tiliaceus) fibre through which it is strained. At some point an ancient chant is taken up by a group seated behind the tanoa to the accompaniment of wooden drum (lali – LAH-lee). The man preparing the yaqona then raises the strainer and wrings out the drink to allow the matanivanua –(Matah-nee-vah-NOO-WAH) (hereditary position of spokesman for the honored guest) to judge whether the consistency is correct.

The yaqona mixer then hands, or sometimes tosses, the strainer to a man behind who shakes out the dregs and returns it to the mixer who uses it to wipe the rim of the tanoa. He then announces that the yaqona is ready, and claps three times. Fijian clapping (cobo – THAW-Bhoh) is done with hallowed hands and is a sign of respect.

 
The yaqona is now served. The server coils back the Sau (SAR-ou)(coconut fibre cord), picks up the bilo-(BEE-law) (coconut shell cup) and extends it toward the tanoa to be filled. He then turns, arms extended holding out the bilo, and sways and steps towards the honored guest to the rhythm of the chanting. The chant ends abruptly when the cup- bearer pours the yaqona into the honored guest’s bilo, the Chief guest claps and drinks the yaqona slowly, in one draught, to the clapping of the chanters. When the guest places his bilo on its stand after he has drunk the first serve, the chorus of the word “Maca” (pronounce – Mar-THA) by the servers and those who assemble, honorably signifies that the chief has just finished drinking the first cup of the Yaqona Vakaturaga, and all present clap (or cobo) independently. Immediately after the first cup is drunk, the matanivanua would drink, followed by a small number of guests and their respective matanivanua. The mixer announces that the yaqona has been drunk, claps, and so ends the yaqona Vakaturaga.(VARKar-TOO-Rung-her)

Much of Fijian culture is grounded in the concept of equilibrium that all things done are in pairs. That is why for every cup of yaqona drunk by a guest of honor, a corresponding cup (rabe – RAH-bhe) is drunk, usually by a matanivanua, which does not count in the order of precedence, but conceivably by anyone who wishes to honor the individual who has just drunk.