KHONG KEPANG KENNYU

Celebrated In : Assam Significance : A ceremony connected with the First Harvesting of the Ripening Paddy.

A Harvest Festival The ceremony connected with first harvesting of the ripening paddy is called 'Khong Kepang Kennyu'. It is one of the most important ceremonies connected with agriculture. Without the observance of this ceremony no harvesting of the new paddy takes place.

The Ritual An old woman of the village goes to the paddy field, from which the first harvesting of new rice is to be done at dawn. She takes with her some food and rice beer, which she offers, to the spirit of the crops in the field. After the offering she cuts down some rice ears and carries the ears in the basket to the village. At night she eats the new rice after cooking. The villagers may start reaping their paddy from the next day. The ceremony is similar to the Assamese new rice harvesting ceremony called 'Lakhimi Ana'. But the Lakhimi Ana ceremony is connected with the individual family while the 'Khong Kepang Kennyu' is connected with the village. Secondly, the new rice, brought ceremoniously, is not consumed by the Assamesse people on the very night. It is, on the other hand, kept stored in the granary.