An Anthropological Study on the ‘Killa’ (Defilement) Concept Related to Paddy Farming
Abstract
This research investigates the relationship between the concept of Killa and paddy farming. The main purpose is to study the socio-cultural impact of the practices related to the killa concept among the taboos and practices of paddy cultivation. Specific objectives include identifying the concept of Killa as an important part of rites of passage and human life, studying the socio-cultural value of the concept of Killa, and its present practice and interpretations. The Applied Anthropological study selected fifty farmers from Uhana Divisional Secretariat in Ampara district as primary respondents, through judgmental sampling method. Respondents were of the opinion that apart from birth, puberty, monthly menstruation and death, food is also associated with killi. The most significant entity about Killa was that it was feminine and primarily affected. The farmers said it was a taboo for women to come to the threshing floor, and it was mentioned as an age-old custom. In addition to this, threshing is also prohibited for the male who have been exposed to killa. If a baby is born in the home of a farmer, he is prohibited from threshing for 30 days due to the vadum killa on his crops. The onset of puberty is known by the villagers as Kotahalu Killa and lasts for fourteen days. When a householder or close relative dies, it is forbidden to come to the threshing floor for three months. Therefore, it was realized from the comments of the villagers that the barriers among paddy cultivation are very strong and have remained secure from the past to the present. It may be concluded that farmers who were carrying on paddy farming with divinity believe the concept of killa. According to that, since the past till the present days, the same taboos were followed and the cultivation was carried out with great reverence.
