Bihan Mela celebrated by the Kondh Tribe in Odisha

Category : Miscellaneous Published on: May 03 2023

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The members of the Kondh tribe in Odisha have added one more event to their calendar of festivals called Bihan Mela.
Bihan Mela is literally the seed festival celebrated by the Kondh Tribe in Odisha.
Bihan Mela is a unique festival celebrated by the Kondh tribe in Odisha’s Nayagarh district since 2019
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, which include both hybrid and indigenous varieties of paddy, millets, maize and sorghum.
The Khonds are the largest tribal group in the state of Odisha. They are known for their rich cultural heritage, valourous martial traditions, and indigenous values which centre on harmony with nature.
Khonds speak the Kui language and write it in the Odia script.
The Kandhamal district in Odisha has a fifty-five percent Khond population and is named after the tribe.