Kedu is a major festival held in the tribal districts of
Ganjam and
Koraput. This five-day festival is mainly celebrated by the Kondhs of
Phulbani, Ganjam and Koraput. The festival is meant to propitiate the Mother Earth. Buffalo sacrifices made on the third day is the main feature of the festival. In ancient days human sacrifices are made instead of buffalo sacrifices which were totally banned during the British rule in India.
During the festival, men and woman, after getting drunk, dance in a frantic mood and then kill the animal in a cruel manner by cutting its limbs piece by piece. They then carry the blood and a piece of meat and bury it in the field where they produce turmeric. Kondhs believe that by performing this ritual, a good crop of turmeric would be yield in the next harvest.
Kedu Dance performed as a part of the festival is a major draw. The dance is accompanied by devotional songs sung in the Kui language.
