Idalinti

Idalinti is a term in the fictional ethnography of the Idalinti people, describing a cyclic ceremonial event that forms the core of their harvest festival. The term also designates the associated dance and the network of rituals performed during the event.

Etymology and usage: The word idalinti comes from the Idalinti language, generally translated as “together at dusk” or “shared evening.” In traditional texts, idalinti appears as both a noun for the festival and a verb describing the act of gathering and performing.

Geography and society: The Idalinti are said to inhabit the high valleys of the Valara archipelago. Their society is organized around kin groups and an elder council; communal land stewardship and mutual aid are central to daily life and decision-making.

Ritual practice: The idalinti cycle unfolds over three days. It begins with a lighting rite and a communal feast; at dusk on the second evening, pairs of dancers perform a choreographed sequence, accompanied by drums, flutes, and stringed instruments. Movements imitate the river’s flow and the night sky, while songs recount ancestral migrations. The event closes with a shared meal and the distribution of ceremonial tokens.

Cultural significance and modern status: Idalinti reinforces social bonds, mediates conflicts, and passes down history and values. In recent decades, revival efforts and academic documentation have helped preserve the practice, which is performed in villages and diaspora communities and sometimes featured in ethnographic film and world-music contexts.