Friday, August 24, 2007

Elnigo (Farm)

Within the tana (land) allocated to a Blaan household, a fertile area called elnigo is identified for planting rice. The farmer invokes the help of Dwata or Meleh (supreme being) through a ritual called mabah to determine whether the area is suitable for cropping. Dwata speaks to the farmer through the almugan, a wild fruit dove.When the almugan makes a pleasing sound more than foru times heard through the left area, Dwata blesses the farm. The four calls of the almugan stand for the cornerstones of the fol.

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