A ‘Santhal Samaj Majhi Halam Naike Sammelan’ was held at the Tulsichowra Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir here for two days on Saturday and Sunday.
Many prominent tribal writers, thinkers and leaders coming from various parts of the State discussed about various problems relating to tribal traditions and culture in detail.
They suggested ways to protect Jahiras (sacred sites of Santhals) and advised to hold the tribal heroes in esteem and uphold the values and ethos of indigenous Bharatiya culture.
They talked in detail about bad impacts of religious conversion and extra-territorial loyalty. The Majhi Halams, tribal village leaders, and the Naikes, Jahira worshippers, endorsed the suggestions.
The programme convened by Dharma Jagaran Samanwaya Samiti leader and tribal intellectual Bhagat Hansdah was coordinated by Engineer Bisweswar Tudu. Among o thers, former MP Bhagirathi Majhi, former MlA Kandra Soren, Kendra Sahitya Awardees Gangadhar Hansdah and Govind Majhi, RSS leader Bharat Hansdah, tribal reformer Saktidayal Kisku and social workers Vinay Bhuyan and Alok Khatua attended.
It may be noted that Santhals are a dominant tribal community living northern Odisha. In recent days, awareness is being created among the people of the community against forcible religious conversion.