Agalmaka
Agalmaka (transl. the ritual on the ground covered with ashes) is a spring festival celebrated by the Garo tribe of Meghalaya, India. It is a ritual to optimize the soil fertility and to protect future crops through offerings. The festival is held in the month of March, in the new field called "A'dal" (new land for cultivation).[1] Right after the burning of debris for cultivation, a ritual of purification of the new farm is performed.[2][3]
The festival is led by the Nokma, the village priest. He calls up the God “Misi Saljong” (Sun god) and “Mima Kiri Rokkime” to bless the whole village. Agalmaka literally means “the ritual on the ground covered with ashes”.[3][4]
Celebration Style[edit]
At the beginning of the event a long bamboo is buried on the ground. Boiled rice, rice, meat, dried fish, etc. are kept in the base of the bamboo. It is accompanied by a pot of su (wine). To please the gods and goddesses, young men and women spend the night dancing and singing.[5]
The next day, all the people spend the whole day and night celebrating joy. On the second day, the festivities end at night. The end of this festival is called Dama Gogatta. The seeds of the crop start sowing from the day after the end of the Agalmaka festival. The dance that is performed during this Agalmaka festival is accompanied by the song Asiroka. Asiroka is a song associated with the agricultural festival of Agalmaka.[6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Majumdar, Dhirendra Narayan (1980). A Study of Culture Change in Two Garo Villages of Meghalaya. Gauhati: Gauhati University.
- ↑ Queenbala Marak, Sarit K. Chaudhuri (28 February 2020). The Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya. Manohar. p. 752.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Garo festival Agalmaka to be held at Chibagre today". Highland Post. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ↑ Azim, Firdous; Zaman, Niaz (2005). Galpa - Short Stories by Women from Bangladesh. Saqi.
- ↑ Agro-Economic Research Centre for North East India (1969). Rural Life in Assam Hills: Case Studies of Four Villages. India: distributors: Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyaya, Calcutta.
- ↑ Mittal, A.C.; Sharma, J.B. (1998). Tribal Movement, Politics, and Religion in India: Tribal religion in India. India: Radha Publications.