In another step towards preserving, protecting, and promoting the tribal cultural diversities, the students of KISS-DU celebrated the unique tribal festival, Chait Parab, on 11th April 2022.
Kandha Tribe is one of the powerful indigenous tribes of Odisha. The Kandhas celebrate various festivals throughout the year, and Chait Parab is one of them. This festival is observed for three consecutive days. Not only the Kandhas but also Paraja, Gadaba, Bhatara, Bhumiya tribes from Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, etc. participate and celebrate this important festival. Chait Parab is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (April in the English calendar). For the whole month of Chaitra, the Adivasi people remain in a festive mood, and they neither go out to work in the field nor touch the soil for farming. All able-bodied persons go out hunting in the jungle, and they hunt ‘Barah’ and ‘Kutara,’ and when they return to the village after hunting, they are welcomed by the women with the turmeric water on the way. It is also known as ‘benta bula Parab’ in Koraput. During the daytime, women, young and old, keep on singing and dancing. During the celebration of this festival, if any outsider enters the village, then the penalty is collected from them.
The Chait Parab was celebrated by the students, research scholars, and alumni and attended by the Senior Functionaries of KISS-DU and KISS.