The Himalayan hills are as majestic as ever, the folk music beats as mesmeric. The experience however promises to be like no other. The small village of Parengtar, located at the India-Bhutan border in Patangodak gram panchayat under Gorubathan block of Kalimpong district in West Bengal, will soon be alive with the sound of music. It’s time to prepare for the annual Kholey Dai festival, which is being held this time in close collaboration with Village Square.
The cultural event aims to revive and re-establish the age-old local traditions that surround paddy harvesting, generally known as dai in Nepali. The Kholey Dai celebrations encompass initiatives to re-engage the community in activities that reaffirm cultural values as well as offer a participative experience to travellers to immerse themselves in the authentic village life. The 3-day festival begins on 15 December this year.
Celebration of community spirit
What makes the Kholey Dai festival an exciting event is the active participation of the local rural communities throughout the occasion, from the conceptualisation stage to the organisation of the fiesta. It is a key element of the community tourism model being developed in Parengtar by the organising team, which comprises the Parengtar Nawlo Umanga Welfare Society, Muhaan and Cafe Kalimpong, in close association of course with the villagers.
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One of the focus areas is promoting a cyclic economy with the help of effective utilisation of local resources from the community itself. Villagers are encouraged to provide accommodation to visitors in their houses, making homestays an important aspect of the Kholey Dai festival. So visitors can eat with their hosts, learn local recipes, play native games and lend a hand in their day-to-day activities.
“This festival has brought our village to the limelight, and become a training ground of rural tourism and zero-waste living for us,” said Roshan Rai, president, Parengtar Nawlo Umang Welfare Society.
You can also look forward to workshops on local crafts, food, storytelling, arts, biodiversity, and so on. A part of the revenue from the festival is also contributed towards the welfare of the residents of Parengtar.
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“Even though I am from Nepal, I haven’t seen any such initiative at our place,” said Palina Rai, the founder of Boju Store, who conducted a workshop on the indigenous food of the Kirati community at last year’s event. “I am inspired to do something like this in Nepal too,” he added.
Wildlife photographer and filmmaker Gaurab Talukdar, who attended the event last year, was moved by the warmth shown by the villagers. “The people welcomed us with open arms and the raw companionship we experienced made Kholey Dai truly enchanting,” he said.
Magic of folk music
This year, Kholey Dai will feature folk musicians, bands and artistes from the northeastern parts of India like the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim, and Nepal. From the melancholy of murchunga (jaw harp), believed to be one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, to the energetic percussion beats of the damphu, the festival will bring many lesser-known folk gems to the forefront.
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The line-up includes, among others, the Mookhuri (traditional and folk) band from Meghalaya, named after the three-stone cooking stove found in most kitchens of the state; the Kathmandu-based ‘ghugu’mugu’ trio comprising sarod player Anurag “Koinch” Thapa, guitarist Kishor Maharjan and percussionist Ajay Shrestha; Nepalese singer/songwriter Purna Rai who rose to stardom with his song Manaka kura that has over 16 million views on YouTube; and the Delhi-based Bipul Chettri and the Travelling Band from Kalimpong, who draw influence from the traditional sounds of the Himalayas.
You can also look forward to performances by Barta Gandharba and Binod, the husband-and-wife folk singer/songwriter, composer, and sarangi duo; Pushpan Pradhan, a folk musician, lyricist, composer and singer from Dooars (Chalouni Tea garden) who brings to fore the struggle of toiling masses; and Biswajit Sewa, who holds keen interest in traditional instruments such as marchunga, djembe didgeriddoo, ektara Mongolian throat singing and various other local instruments that are locally used in Kalimpong.
Recalling his performance at the festival last year, vocalist Sugama Gautam said, “I really enjoyed the whole environment of Parengtar, and learnt a lot of new things after witnessing the performances of the local troupes and talented musicians.”
Bridging the divide
Kholey Dai celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Kalimpong. It also provides the perfect opportunity to urban youngsters to experience rural vibes, thus aligning with the thought of Village Square.
“This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to bridging the rural-urban divide by promoting such lesser-known youth-led festivals in India,” said Sanjana Kaushik, manager–Youth Hub at Village Square.
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Kholey Dai festival is rooted in the strong urge to conserve rural cultures and promote villages in the most authentic way possible, Muhaan co-founder Arunavh Dam said. “It is an ode to all the farmers as it celebrates paddy harvest,” he added.
It is also an attempt to bring attention to the impacts of climate change being borne by rural communities. “Their vulnerability, tied to their primary livelihoods, makes them encounter recurring challenges, leading many traditions to fade,” said Nehal Raj Pradhan, founding partner of Muhaan. “As communities, especially the youth, seek to pursue alternative paths that further contribute to recurring environmental degradation, efforts like Kholey Dai prove to be crucial.”
Essential information:
When: Dec 15-17, 8 am to 11:50 pm
Where: Parengtar, Jaldhaka, Kalimpong, West Bengal
How to reach:
- Nearest railway station: New Jalpaiguri (NJP), located about 96 km (3.5 hr drive) from Parengtar
- Nearest airport: Bagdogra, located about 120 km (4 hr drive) from Parengtar
- Nearest bus stand: There are no direct bus routes to Parengtar, but you can take a bus to Bindu and get off at Jholung, which is about 2 km from Parengtar. You can also get a direct shared taxi from Pani Tanki, Siliguri, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Or you can get regular cars at Malbazar till 3 pm.
How to register:
Check the details here https://www.muhaan.in/events/kholeydai-annual-harvest-music-festival-2023
How to contribute:
Make your crowdfunding donation here:
https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-kholeydai-festival
The lead image at the top shows a past edition of the Kholey Dai festival at Parengtar village. (Photo courtesy Kholey Dai team)
