Bihan Mela

Why in news?

• The members of the Kondh tribe in Odisha have added one more event to their calendar of festivals called Bihan Mela.

About Bihan Mela:

• Bihan Mela is literally the ‘seed festival’ celebrated by the Kondh Tribe in Odisha.
• The farmers participate in the festival from as many as 40 villages. Preparations for this festival begin as soon as farmers have harvested Kharif crops.
• Women, who are at the helm of this festival, carefully collect seeds of the indigenous varieties and store them in earthen pots.
• Then, on a designated day in December, they decorate the pots with red and white motifs, place them in a bamboo basket and carry it on its head to the village where the fair is being organized.
• Along the way, they are accompanied by men beating drums and other traditional instruments.

About Khonds Tribe:

• The Khonds are the largest tribal group in the state of Odisha.
• They speak the Kui language and write it in the Odia script.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

‘Bihan Mela’, sometimes seen in news, is associated with:

(a) Bhils

(b) Mundas

(c) Gonds

(d) Khonds

Answer