In a display of their rich cultural heritage, tribal communities in Kolhan region celebrated the Sendra festival with great enthusiasm and fervour. Like in the past, this year's celebrations were carried out under the watchful eyes of the forest department, who ensured that the rituals were performed in an environmentally responsible manner.

The motley groups of tribal who climbed up the Dalma forest on the night of Sunday in pursuit of celebrating the Sendra festival have not killed any animal, claimed the forest officials.

The Sendra festival, which marks the beginning of the agricultural season, is an important cultural event for tribal communities. During the festival, people gather around a bonfire to offer prayers to their deity and sing and dance to traditional songs. However, this also involves hunting animals.

To address this issue, the forest department worked closely with the tribal communities to raise awareness about the impact of their activities on the environment. Many tribes have started celebrating the festival without bloodshed, following rituals to reduce the impact on the forest.

The forest department provided guidance and assistance to the tribal communities to ensure that the festival was celebrated in a safe and sustainable manner. They also closely monitored the activities to ensure that no harm was done to the wildlife.

Speaking about the celebrations, a forest department official said, "We are happy to see that the tribal communities have shown a growing awareness about the need to protect the environment. We will continue to work with them to promote sustainable practices and ensure that the cultural traditions are carried out in a responsible manner."

Overall, the celebrations of the Sendra festival were a great success, with the tribal communities coming together to celebrate their cultural heritage while also being mindful of the environment. The efforts of the forest department to ensure responsible celebrations are a testament to their commitment to promoting sustainable development in the region. Around 11 checkpoints were set up to ensure that the festival was peaceful.

Sendra is a significant festival celebrated by the tribal communities of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. It is observed to mark the beginning of the agricultural season and is a way to seek the blessings of the deity for a good harvest. During this festival, the tribal communities perform various rituals, such as offering prayers to the deity and singing and dancing around a bonfire.

The forest department also provides guidance and assistance to the tribal communities to ensure that the festival is celebrated in a safe and sustainable way. This includes providing them with information about the impact of their activities on the environment, as well as suggesting alternative methods to celebrate the festival.

Overall, the celebration of Sendra is an important cultural event for the tribal communities, and the efforts of the forest department to ensure its responsible celebration are commendable.

Police constables from East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan were also deployed to prevent tribals from entering the Dalma Wildlife sanctuary with non-traditional weapons. Moreover, divisional railway managers of  Chakradharpur and Adra divisions had been asked to deploy magistrates to prevent tribals from boarding trains with weapons