Why is the Week of Peace an important custom for the people in the community? (chapter 4)

The week of peace is meant for fellowship and to show the gods that the Igbo can live with peace,

You know as well as I do that our forefathers ordained that before we plant any crops in the earth we should observe a week in which a man does not say a harsh word to his neighbour. We live in peace with our fellows to honour our great goddess of the earth without whose blessing our crops will not grow."