Rabha tribes in northeastern India welcome harvest with fiery Baikho festival

The Rabha tribal community in India’s northeastern Assam state have ushered in this year’s harvest by performing auspicious rituals in the Baikho festival, including running barefoot over burning hot coals as piles of leftover planting materials blaze in the background.

The ancient fire rituals led by the holy priests of the some 130,000 members of the traditionally animist Rabha ethnic minority are acts of worship locally known as ‘puja’ for Goddess Bhaiko, the deity of wealth adored for her ability to bring forth rains, abundant crops and health for the community, notes the national cultural portal India Net Zone.

The Baikho festival takes place annually to ward off evil spirits through puja ahead of the spring harvest, and lasts between three and seven days, during which time the men offer animal sacrifices, play traditional music and drink local rice beer.

According to an epa journalist, the music and energy of the festival gives the holy leaders the adrenaline to run through the hot coals to honor the deity overseeing agrarian activities of the community.

“The main priests have to be pure in heart and have the courage of a lion. Their bravery is tested through several activities,” said Arup Kumar Rabha, a local representative of the tribe, who called the firesparked activities “a combination of skill, grace, perseverance and traditional beliefs,” as cited by the Assam Tribune newspaper.