Orissa tribals honour girl child through festival

Koraput (Orissa), Apr 21 (ANI): Tribals of Orissa's Koraput District celebrated the Panirakani Festival to honour the girl child and seek divine blessings for them.

Panirakani falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April). Parents of girls seek blessings of the almighty to protect their daughters from evil spirits.

The village priest fixes the day and date of the festival. Then he selects girls between the ages of seven and nine, to take part in the festival.

"Only those who have daughters can take part in this festival. For participating, the girl must be less than nine years of age and more than seven years," said Chandra Shekhar Dora, a priest.

Girls wear traditional attire and tribal jewellery. They dance to tribal music.

"The tribals of Koraput give a lot of importance to the girl child. They think that girl child is an asset for the family. So, they observe different types of festivals to commemorate the girl child," said Luna Panda, a social activist.

Koraput is one region where people celebrate the birth of a girl is born. Girls are considered an asset. (ANI)