The tribals across the Coal and Steel City of Dhanbad-Bokaro region are gearing up to celebrate ‘Karma’ festival, with traditional fanfare and gaiety on Friday.
Karma is one of the most popular festivals celebrated by the Oraon, Baiga, Binjhwari and Majhwar tribes of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Since the entire economy of the tribals dependent on land, water and forest, trees that sustain the environment must be worshiped, said Sadhna Kumari a tribal girl residing at Bokaro.
“On this day we (tribals) collect fruits and flowers from the forest, and worship Karma Devi, a goddess who is represented with a branch of Karam tree,” she added.
The branches of the tree are worshiped and their blessings soughed as per the mythology of Karam Devi, she is the goddess of wealth and children, Sadhana said.
Actually the word ‘Karma’ is derived from the name of a tree Karam; the branch of the Karam tree is carried by the dancers and is passed among them with singing and dancing during, said Sadhna. During celebration branch of Karam tree is first washed with milk and then rice beer (Handia) and later raised in the middle of the dancing area, said Anand Mahato.