No one is permitted to harvest his crops until the offerings of the first fruits to the gods are carried out. Yearly yam and groundnut harvests are also celebrated. The elder prays while holding the skull of an ancestor. Afterwards, he sacrifices an animal to Da, usually a chicken, and pours its blood over the skull. Among the Gola, circumcision is the most important initiation rite for a young boy.
Circumcision is considered a type of rebirth, and death to one's former self.
It is also a form of affiliation with the gods. For a month after circumcision, the boy is secluded and can talk to no one. Afterwards, he is showered with gifts of chickens, beer, and arrows. He is then considered a man a responsible person who must show respect to his family members and elders. As a man, he can become a member of various religious cults.