The festival of nature, Sarhul was celebrated with enthusiasm in and around Hazaribagh. At Hazaribagh the main rituals of Sarhul were observed by the Pahan in the Sarna ground, near new bus stand. After conclusion of the rituals Pahan predicted good monsoon this year but they also cautioned about scorching heat during this summer on the basis of level of water kept in earthen pots. Cocks of three colors were sacrificed for good and prosperous days for the entire society.

In the morning from every area of the town youths in traditional dresses started gathering in the ground with the members of their society along with dhol, nagada and DJ sounds. They all first participated in the rituals which were completed by the Pahans of their society. The rituals ended with Phool Khosani in which denizens use to put flowers of Sakhua plant on each other’s ear. After the rituals a procession came out from the ground which travelled through almost all the important areas of the town. The participating boys and girls kept dancing all through the way on the tunes of Mandar. Though the traffic got disrupted due to this procession but the citizens of the town enjoyed the traditional dance and songs going on in the procession.

From 10 a.m. onwards the arrival of people started in the Sarna ground and the procession went on till sunset. After that they once again gathered in the Sarna Ground which was decorated attractively with the help of illuminating bulbs. Here once again the youths presented their traditional dance items along with local folk songs which were enjoyed by a large gathering.

Among the participants majority was of tribal youths but this year the number of youths of other society and community were also seen enjoying the color, dance and songs of the famous festival of Jharkhand ‘Sarhul’.