Hacha-Kekan festival celebrated across Karbi Anglong

Our Correspondent
Diphu, Jan. 14 (EMN): ‘Hacha-Kekan,’ a post-harvest festival of the Karbis was celebrated in various parts of Karbi Anglong on Friday.

In Diphu, the Karbi cultural Society-Central Committee celebrated the festival in Taralangso with much pomp and gaiety in fulfillment of the olden-days practices of the Karbi tribe.

The festival witnessed young boys and girls dressed in traditional attires carrying the materials that are being used in paddy cultivation.

It is believed that in the olden days, unmarried boys and girls formed groups to start their joint project — Jir-Kedam — for paddy and allied cultivation.

At this time of the year, they would built their ‘Terank’– a camp where the youth would stay throughout the year – and select the land for paddy and other cultivation.

They would take up the process like sowing, guarding, etc. until the time of harvest.

The ‘Hacha Kekan’ festival is observed annually after harvest is done.

Briefing media persons, the Secretary of Karbi Cultural Society (KCS), Bidya Sing Rongpi said, ‘KCS has been celebrating Hacha Kekan for the last many years. The Karbi tribe is dependent on agriculture. When the crops are harvested and are brought home from the hill farms, then the Hacha Kekan dance is performed.’

Rongpi also said, the authority of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has declared 14 January as Local holiday on account of Hacha Kekan.