Thousands of devotees from across the city got together at the Sarna Sthal in Siramtoli to worship Mother Nature and celebrate Sarhul, the tribal festival welcoming spring, on Monday.
Processions from Sarna Sthals across the city were taken out by the tribals, merging into a grand procession at Albert Ekka Chowk, before arriving at the Siramtoli Sarna Sthal to offer prayers. The procession reverberated with the beats of Mandar as the devotees danced their way to the worship area.
A grand programme was organized at the Tribal and Regional Languages of Ranchi University on Sunday to celebrate the festival where Chancellor cum Governor, Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest. Students of all the nine language departments performed their tradition dances on the occasion.
The festival does not just mark the onset of spring season but is also the beginning of sowing season as the tribal population starts sowing the fields only after offering prayers during this festival.
On the occasion, the Pahans (tribal priests) also determine the expected rainfall in monsoon. This year, a low rainfall was predicted by the pahans. Jaglal Pahan, a tribal priest said, “We had put two earthen pots filled with water from a flowing source yesterday under a Sal tree. Today, after the rituals when we opened the pot, the water level had reduced, so we can expect low rainfall this year.”
The three day festival started on Sunday with cleaning of Sarna Sthals and offering prayers to the Singh Bonga (almighty), Bonga (gods and spirits) and the Mother Nature. Former head of tribal and regional department, Girdhari Ram Gaunjhu said, “After the prayers, two pots are kept under the tree and next day when the pots are opened, rainfall can be predicted. It is believed that if while opening the pot water spills, high rainfall can be expected and if the water remains stagnant normal rainfall is expected. However, if the water level decreases, it is a matter of concern as it predicts low rainfall in monsoon.”
The third day of festival, which will be celebrated on Tuesday is called phoolkhonsai wherein the pahans visit every house in the village and sticks Sal flower on the door for prosperity.
Sal, also called Sarai or Sakhua, plays a very important role in the festival as the tribal believe that Singh Bonga resides on these trees. Also, the longevity of the tree and multiple usages of all the parts right from the wood to fruits and leaves make it very important in the tribal culture.
A popular tribal saying about the tree is 1000 saal khada, 1000 saal pada, 1000 saal sada (1000 years standing, 1000 years lying, 1000 years rotting) depicts the 3000 years of life of a Sal tree.