Bihan Mela

(Important for Prelims, Culture)

Q. What is Bihan Mela - 

·   Bihan Mela is the seed festival celebrated by the Khond Tribe in Odisha’ Nayagarh district.

  ·      Preparations begin as soon as farmers have harvested kharif crops, which includes both hybrid and indigenous varieties of paddy, millets, maize and sorghum.

  ·  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 head to the village where the fair is being organised. Along the way, they are accompanied by men beating drums and other traditional instruments.

NOTE- Niyamgiri hills in Odisha are inhabited by the DongriaKhond, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.