Dalma Buru Sendra Samity (DBSS) has made an appeal to the tribal community to celebrate the annual festival in a symbolic manner, according to Rakesh Hembrom, chief priest.
They are not going to take any chances when it comes to safety of animals, said the chief priest.
The DBSS has convened a meeting at Gadra village on April 8 to discuss preparations for Sendra. Dalma authorities have also been invited for the meeting. “Dates of the festival will be announced at the meeting. Sendra will be celebrated sometimes in May,” Hembrom added.
The forest department's drive to conserve wildlife by putting a ban on hunting and killing of wild animals, tribals have shown results with Sendra Samiti, Dalma and villagers declaring to celebrate their indigenous annual hunting festival peacefully. Hembrom re-iterated that there would be no bloodshed. " We have asked the hunters not to carry nets, guns or any tranqualisers. This year the focus would be on cultural programme and related activities," he said.
Chhote Hembrom, the adviser to the samiti said that they would also keep a close watch on hunters from neighbouring Bengal and Odisha who climb the hill with lethal weapons.
"We will prevent entry of hunters from the neighbouring states, who usually take shelter in the Dalma wildlife sanctuary the night preceding the festival," he said adding that the samiti members would keep a vigil on all the entry points to the sanctuary.
The samiti informed about their decision to forest officials. The samiti would also appeal to all the tribal organisations in the next couple of days to not kill animals during Sendra but observe token rituals.