Njóraat Dlá Festival
North Orrólan: Njóraat Dlá /ɲouraːth ɮauː/
The Njóraat Dlá Festival is held each year by the Orrólans of northwestern Túlmikkía to celebrate the beginning of the four months of ceasefire between the tribes in Orrs. The festival coincides with appearance of a bright star, know as Lúrr to the northern orrólans, and traditionally lasts for four days, but a number of other celebrations occur during the following months as well. Conversely, the end of this period has a much more somber tone, as the orrólans prepare for coming hostilities as Lúrr's light fades away.
The festival is particularly important to the inhabitants of towns and cities in Aam, the coastal northern region of Orrs, as it's not uncommon for weddings to be held at the time, while the desert nomads of Hjaam to the south celebrate much more modestly.
Food and drink are an important part of the festival, both local dishes (though with fancier ingredients) as well as more exotic ones originating from as far as Dalra, Vagalkan and Ænadó. Examples include dates filled with goat cheese, spiced pumpkin-, lentil- and tepary soups, roasted goat and wild game, fish, seaweed and other seafood, palm- or grape wine, maize beer and fermented goat milk.
The Njóraat Dlá Festival is held each year by the Orrólans of northwestern Túlmikkía to celebrate the beginning of the four months of ceasefire between the tribes in Orrs. The festival coincides with appearance of a bright star, know as Lúrr to the northern orrólans, and traditionally lasts for four days, but a number of other celebrations occur during the following months as well. Conversely, the end of this period has a much more somber tone, as the orrólans prepare for coming hostilities as Lúrr's light fades away.
The festival is particularly important to the inhabitants of towns and cities in Aam, the coastal northern region of Orrs, as it's not uncommon for weddings to be held at the time, while the desert nomads of Hjaam to the south celebrate much more modestly.
Food and drink are an important part of the festival, both local dishes (though with fancier ingredients) as well as more exotic ones originating from as far as Dalra, Vagalkan and Ænadó. Examples include dates filled with goat cheese, spiced pumpkin-, lentil- and tepary soups, roasted goat and wild game, fish, seaweed and other seafood, palm- or grape wine, maize beer and fermented goat milk.
Execution
The Njóraat Dlá Festival traditionally begins the second day after Lúrr is sighted on the night sky to give people time to prepare for it. The exact ritual held to let the celebrations begin varies between town and cities; in the city of Óaa, for example, the priestess of Tamá, goddess of love, leads a procession towards the harbour outside the city, where she covers a statue of the war goddess Motá with sanctified cloth. Soon after, the whole city trembles as the people start cheering, singing, dancing and playing instruments on their way back.
Weapons are also wrapped in skins or cloth and placed somewhere safe, and anyone who brandishes a weapon during the festivities is immediately exiled.
Weapons are also wrapped in skins or cloth and placed somewhere safe, and anyone who brandishes a weapon during the festivities is immediately exiled.
Orrólan priestess of Taná by Lappalingur
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