KHELCHAWA FESTIVAL

About: 

• When celebrated? It is a quinquennial festival i.e. celebrated every five years after harvest season over a period of 4 days. 
  
  
• Who celebrates it? Tiwa tribesmen of Karbi Anglong district, Assam. 
  
  
• Objective: 
  • The festival celebrates the efforts of young boys becoming an adult. 
    
    
  • This festival is also closely related to agriculture. After the harvesting season is over Tiwa community from Magro clan celebrates Khelchawa festival for a good harvest. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Celebrations: 
  • It’s a male-dominated festival. In a given year, young boys of aged between 10-14 years will enroll themselves for the festival. For the next five years, they will be the main leads in religious or cultural events in the villages. 
    
    
  • After the elapse of five years, villagers will decide the timing of festival which is generally after the harvesting season. 
    
    
  • The period of 4 days are then celebrated with full vigor and charm where young boys now adults dressed in traditional Tiwa costume perform to one of the most popular folk songs of the Tiwas. 
    
    
  • Pigs are sacrificed as a mark of respect for their local deities collectively known as 'Lampha Raja'.