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The 6th Edition of a community-led harvest festival celebrating the rich art, culture, traditions,and folk musicof the Eastern Himalayas.
Every December, in the quiet village of Parengtar, where the river Jaldhaka hums between India and Bhutan, a celebration unfolds that turns the rhythm of farming into a festival of joy.
Once, long ago, after the harvest period was over villagers would gather on the Khaley Gara, a patch of earth cleaned and prepared with cow dung. Over here paddy stalks were laid out for threshing, songs filled the air, and laughter echoed through the fields. It was more like a festival everyone would be a part of and when night fell, everyone, young and old, would sit together to share a bowl of Kholey, a soupy porridge made from freshly harvested rice.
This was the spirit of Kholey Dai, a time when hard work met harmony, and community came before everything.
In 2021, this memory was brought back to life by the people of Parengtar. What began with the Asaar Pandra, (a sowing festival usually held in the month of June during the onset of monsoon ) grew into Kholey Dai, a community-led harvest celebration where farmers, artists, musicians, and youth came together to celebrate their roots taking place at the end of the year embracing itself in the cold month of December .
The first edition was built on collective effort, ownership, and heart, turning a small idea into a movement that continues to grow stronger every year. Today, Kholey Dai is a space where culture, sustainability, and community meet - a living story of people reclaiming their traditions and reimagining their future together.
What makes Kholey Dai Unique
Shaped
by the Village
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Rooted
in Nature
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Revival of
Indigenous Seeds
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Nurturing
the Future
Keeping
Traditions Alive
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Created
in Collaboration
COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
What makes the festival stand out is the active participation of the rural communities right from the conceptualization to organization of the festival. The festival is a key element of the community tourism model that is being developed in Parengtar by the organizing team and the community members of the village which aims to integrate every possible aspect of the community. Promoting a cyclic economy the event is based on effective utilization of local resources from the community itself. As part of community tourism even the local houses of the village are encouraged to provide accommodation as homestays for the visitors of the festivals. Part of the revenue from the festival is also contributed for the welfare of the society of Parengtar.
The Eastern Himalayan
Experience
Spanning across the places of, from eastern regions Nepal across Northeast India, Bhutan, the Tibet Autonomous Region to Yunnan in China and northern Myanmar. This place is a hotspot of not only biodiversity of wildlife flora and fauna but more about the various tribal communities , the folks and the way of their living .It is more than a place to visit, a mosaic of cultural tribal life and diversity , where every valley holds a story . The place gets you more connected to the home and one is bound to slow down and be a part of some bigger than a festival an experience to take back home of stories and wisdom.
HOW TO REACH
For visitors arriving via Railway:
The nearest railway station is Malbazar, about 40kms ( 2 and half hours) from Parengtar. From Subhash More, Malbazar you can take a shared taxi to Parengtar. The average fare of a shared taxi is between 150-200 per person.
The nearest major railway junction is New Jalpaiguri Junction, Siliguri which is about 95 km ( 3 hours) distance. You have to reach Kalimandir Bus Stand in Siliguri to get a shared taxi.
For visitors arriving via Airport:
The nearest airport is Bagdogra International Airport, Siliguri is 112 km (4 hours) from Parengtar. You can take an auto to Siliguri, from where you can take a shared taxI between 1 to 3 p.m.
PRESS MENTIONS
