When the paddy grains ripen the Nom-jama festival is held. The ripe grains of paddy is taken and after parboiling are beaten flat. In Ho dialect it is called Taben, in Hindi it is called Chewda, which is given as offering to Sing-Bonga, the supreme deity of the Hos and also to the spirits of the ancestors on the leaves of SoSo (black nut) and Kusha grass. New rice is also cooked on this day. None take new rice before this day. The dance performed is named after the festival.