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.