Photo: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=39725&picture=crescent-moon&large=1
The traditional Khasi Jaintia calendar for agriculture is based on the Lunar Calendar which is divided into twelve months based on cycles of the lunar phases. The agricultural calendar marks certain days as significant for planting (or not) like the Iap bnai (moonless); Ksang Bnai (new moon eve), Mih Bnai (new moon) and Pyllun bnai (full moon). According to Indigenous Traditional Knowledge of the Khasis, if any seasonal crop is planted during the Ksang Bnai, there is a strikingly low tendency for pests to attack the crop. It is also believed that plants planted on this particular day of the month have higher productivity.
Many indigenous communities of Meghalaya still follow the Lunar Calendar, especially the communities in the Smit area.
This month, the Ksang Bnai falls on the 29th of April 2014.
TRADITIONAL CALENDER FOR AGRICULTURE OF THE YEAR 2014
| MONTHS | IAP BNAI (MOONLESS) | KSANG BNAI (NEW MOON EVE) | MIH BNAI (NEW MOON) | PYLLUN BNAI
(FULL MOON) |
| JANUARY | 31 DEC AND 29 | 1 AND 30 | 2 AND 31 | 16 |
| FEBBRUARY | 27 | 28 | —- | 14 |
| MARCH | 28 | 30 | 1 AND 31 | 16 |
| APRIL | 28 | 29 | 30 | 15 |
| MAY | 27 | 28 | 29 | 14 |
| JUNE | 26 | 27 | 28 | 14 |
| JULY | 25 | 26 | 27 | 12 |
| AUGUST | 24 | 25 | 26 | 10 |
| SEPTEMBER | 23 | 24 | 25 | 9 |
| OCTOBER | 22 | 23 | 24 | 8 |
| NOVEMBER | 21 | 22 | 23 | 6 |
| DECEMBER | 21 | 22 | 23 | 6 |
