A community paddy planting festival by
Parengtar Nawlo Umanga Welfare Society
Asaar Pandhra is a traditional paddy plantation festival celebrated on the 15th day of the Nepali month of Asaar, marking the beginning of the rice-growing season.
In Parengtar, this is not just a festival. It is a moment where the community comes together in rain, mud, laughter, and collective labour to welcome the monsoon and begin planting.
You are not here to observe.
You are here to step into the fields, get muddy, plant alongside the community, share meals, participate in the local games and experience the rhythm of the monsoon as it unfolds across the land.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
A festival shaped by rain, land, and community.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
The Shape of Your Days
Each moment is rooted in the land, the season, and the community around you.
Paddy Planting
Step into the mudy fields and plant rice alongside the community, knee-deep, hands in soil.
Rain, Mud & Village Games
Tug of war, mud races, climbing the pole, sapling passing. Played in the rain, by all ages.
Local Homestay Experience
Stay inside the village, simple homes, shared meals, real conversations with farming families.
Food Foraging
Walk the forest edges and learn the wild greens, fern shoots and seasonal stems of the monsoon.
Monsoon Cuisine with Chef
Ishita Dewan
A curated wild-food and monsoon cuisine experience inspired by the seasonal ingredients of this region.
Music, Stories & Local Gatherings
Evenings of jamming sessions, oral histories, and the slow company of village elders.
PLACE
Where the Festival Lives
Parengtar is a small village located at the
Indo-Bhutan border in Kalimpong district, West Bengal shaped by farms, forests, the Jaldhaka river, and close community life.
The word Parengtar in Nepali translates to "A Plateau of Pareng".
It is believed that the village was once a Bamboo forest (Pareng being a certain type of bamboo).
During Asaar, the village becomes a living celebration of agriculture, monsoon, and rural culture.
ELEVATION
~1200
DISTRICT
Kalimpong
REGION
Jaldhaka
29TH JUNE
The Day of
The day begins with traditional offerings and Kirati Bhumi Puja, where prayers are offered to Mother Earth for a prosperous farming season. The air carries the smell of incense, wet earth, and rain.
Then comes the heart of Asaar by sharing the auspicious Dahi Chiura, a combination of curd and beaten rice that is a staple during the festival and provides a quick and nutritious meal for busy farmers.
Then join in the thrill of traditional village games, an integral part of our festival that energises the tenuous atmosphere. Delight in the local food of Asar Pandhra and experience the flavours of the monsoon, collective paddy planting, community lunch, cultural performances and many more.
Don’t forget to explore the Zero-Waste stalls offering a variety of traditional dishes.
This is not a festival to observe. You step in, get muddy, and become part of it.
KIDS FRIENDLY
For Children & Young Explorers
Asaar Pandhra offers children a rare chance to step out of structured learning and into the living rhythms of nature.
Children experience Asaar Pandhra through direct interaction with land and community - planting paddy, playing in the mud, and learning traditional farming practices firsthand.
What feels like play becomes a deeper understanding of food, seasons, and nature, shaped through observation, participation, and everyday village life.
BEYOND THE DAY
More than a One-Day Celebration.
The experience extends beyond the festival day through Parengtar's unique landscape with short hikes and enriching community visits, food foraging, conversations with local people, music, stories, and a curated monsoon cuisine experience inspired by seasonal and wild ingredients of the region. It is the perfect time for a scenic downhill walk and swim in Kharey Khola (stream) and a glimpse of the glorious Jaldhaka River and the looming hills of Bhutan.
CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE
How You'd Like to Come
All packages include the festival day, homestay, and meals. Pick the length that works for you.
DAY BY DAY
What each day holds.
DAY 1
Arrival & Settling In
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Journey through the Eastern Himalayan foothills to Parengtar
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Check into village homestays
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Quiet evening with local food, rain, and rest
DAY 2
A Slow Village Day
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No fixed itinerary — experience the village at your own pace
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Conversations with locals and fellow travellers
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Explore hidden corners, tea spots, and monsoon landscapes
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Time with village children, stories, and local snacks
DAY 3
Village Walks, Food Foraging & Monsoon Cuisine
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Guided walk through farms, forests, and riverside trails
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Visit Dhauley village and the Kirati Temple
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Learn about local culture and nature-based traditions
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Seasonal food foraging experience
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Community lunch in a village kitchen
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Curated monsoon / wild-food dining experience with Chef Ishita Dewan
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Evening music, stories, and conversations
DAY 4
Asaar Pandhra Festival
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Traditional Kirati Bhumi Puja
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Collective paddy planting with the community
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Mud games, rain, music, and village celebrations
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Dahi chiura community lunch
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Cultural performances and local food stalls
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Community-led zero-waste initiatives and products
DAY 5
Departure
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Breakfast with host families
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Farewell to Parengtar and departure with memories of rain, mud, food, and shared joy
What's included.
Homestay accommodation
Three meals per day
Festival participation
Paddy planting and local games
Guided village walks
Food foraging session
Curated monsoon cuisine with Chef Ishita Dewan
Music and stories
Community interactions
Muhaan coordination throughout
What's not.
Travel to/from Parengtar
Personal expenses
Local drinks and Beverage
Transit meals
Insurance and medical costs
Emergency evacuation
Costs due to weather, roadblocks, landslides or delays
GOOD TO KNOW
Before you arrive.
Expect rain
It is monsoon. The sky has its own plans. Embrace it.
You will get muddy
You will get muddy. That's the whole point.
Homestays are simple
Homestays are simple and clean, not luxury.
Plans may shift with weather
Roads, hikes and timings adjust gracefully.
Carry a reusable bottle
It is monsoon. The sky has its own plans. Embrace it.
Avoid single-use plastic
Parengtar has banned plastic bags. Bring cloth.
Respect local customs
Respect local homes, farms, rituals, and customs.
