Pusnâ is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the

Hajong people The Hajong people are an ethnic group of Northeast India and northern parts of Bangladesh. The majority of the Hajongs are settled in India and are predominantly rice-farmers. They are said to have brought wet-field cultivation to the Garo Hill ...

on or around January 14. In 2016, the festival falls on January 15. Pusnâ is a solar event making one of the few traditional Hajong festivals which fall on the same date in the

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...

every year, that is January 14, with some exceptions when the festival is celebrated on January 13 or 15. It is the celebration of

Sankranthi Sankranti () refers to the transmigration of the sun from one zodiac to another in Indian astronomy. In ''Saurmana'' ''varsha'' (Hindu Solar year), there are twelve Sankrantis corresponding with twelve months of a year. The Sankrantis can be broa ...

, with feasts lasting for a week. Traditionally, Pusnâ is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get-togethers is the making and eating of Pi-thâ. Pi-thâs are made of glutinous rice flour.

Traditional customs

During pusnâ people prepare different kinds of traditional cakes with ground rice, scraped coconut, banana and juice extracted from

Palmyra palm ''Borassus'' (palmyra palm) is a genus of five species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Papua New Guinea. Description These massive palms can grow up to high and have robust trunks with distinct leaf scars; in so ...

. Some of these

rice cake A rice cake may be any kind of food item made from rice that has been shaped, condensed, or otherwise combined into a single object. A wide variety of rice cakes exist in many different cultures in which rice is eaten. Common variations include ...

s are deep fried, and some are steamed in bamboo or banana leaves. Ancestors are honoured on the first day of Pusnâ. People visit their relatives and friends during this festival.

References

Hajong culture Culture of Meghalaya Folk festivals in India Spring festivals in India Religious festivals in India {{India-festival-stub

Traditional customs

See also

References