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Navanna [nava + anna, literally, new food] a harvest festival celebrating the harvesting of aman
paddy. All agricultural societies celebrate the harvesting of the main crop. At Wazirabad in North-West India a harvest festival is observed in the month of Baishakh to welcome the new wheat crop. Such festivals are also held in South India. The object is to pray for more crops, timely rain, children and cattle. Tribal communities in
Bangladesh also celebrate the harvest. The santals observe the soharay festival in the months of Paus-Magh after the winter crop is harvested. The celebration lasts for 7 days and 7 nights and includes drinking, singing and dancing. The Usui tribes observe the mailukma festival to welcome Laksmi, the goddess of crops. The mru tribes observe the chamoinat festival during which they sacrifice hens and entertain guests with new rice. The garo tribes observe the wangalla festival during which they feast, drink, sing and dance.
In Bangladesh navanna was mainly observed by Hindus after
the new aman crop had been harvested in autumn. An important part of this
festival was to propitiate the forefathers with new rice. Offerings were
then made to the deities, fire, crows, brahmans
and relatives. The host and his family members were the last to eat. On
this occasion the courtyard of the house used to be painted with rice
paste. Every family of the village used to observe this happy occasion
by offering rice cakes to guests and visiting the houses of relatives.
The whole village used to come alive with the sound of the pounding of
rice and the blowing of conch shells. Everywhere there were groups singing
kirtan,
pala gan
or jarigan.
In the month of Agrahayan masked groups of people used to go round the
houses all night singing and dancing. Farmers used to buy new clothes
after selling the new crop. Today navanna is celebrated by all communities.
Pitha festivals are held on the occasion, during which varieties
of rice cakes are prepared from freshly harvested rice. [Mahmood Nasir
Jahangiri] |
