Bakana Lum

The Bakana Lum is the most important ceremony in the life of many Canodan people on Renath. It is held in the early summer, often just after the spring harvest season, and almost every adult in the nation has taken part. In summary, they must spend a night away from their families in the Green Whisper Wood.

Participants

When a Canodan turns fifteen, they are expected to complete this rite of passage the next time it occurs. Due to the occasional conflict in the region, that might mean the ceremony could be delayed a year or more. Of course, people who are ill or disabled aren't expected to complete the ritual; they can contribute to the community in some other way to get the same level of standing. Those who purposefully try to forego the ritual for other reasons, though, are often considered odd or weird by the rest of town.

Rite of Passage

The day of the bakana lum, the family of the participants will prepare their food and items for their short time outside of the town. They will also traditionally give them a piece of the family's tablecloth or a scrap of their parents' clothing, as a token to remind them of their roots while they are away from home. After the participating children complete their packing, they meet in the town square or meeting house and then set off into the woods with a small number of townsfolk to guide them to the spot chosen for the bakana lum.
There is a short meal in the forest at evening time, then the adults pack up their things and return to the village, leaving the participating children behind. On pain of a serious fine or time in jail, no adult can interact with the children until the sun rises. The children do not have to stay up all night, but many often do, taking the time to reflect on the importance of community or simply having fun with their friends away from the prying eyes of their family.
As the sun rises, the adults of the children return to the forest to reclaim their children, who are now considered adults. They are welcomed into the town council chambers for a quick ceremony, and then there is a small celebration held at home, complete with a fancy seed cake baked specially for the occasion.

Primary Related Location

The Green Whisper Wood

Related Ethnicities

• Canodan

Issues

The most obvious problem that arises with this tradition is that there is the chance that someone could try and kidnap the children. While this is rather rare, it is not unheard of and it makes many people afraid to go through with the rite of passage. Some villages in more dangerous areas will have a group of adults keep an eye on the area of forest, but not on the children in question, therefore not breaking the rules of the rite.
Other Canodans have expressed concern that the rite doesn't prepare their children for adulthood in any way, instead simply traumatizes them unnecessarily. That has led to a couple of villages stopping the practice or creating similar but safer practices, but most village in Canoda.