Two tribal outfits have joined hands to celebrate Sendra (Bishu Shikar), the annual hunt festival, at Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary on May 8. Dolma Buru Sendra Samity (DBSS) and Dolma Buru Sendra Dishua Samity (DBSDS), had celebrated the festival on separate dates last year, causing problems to the forest department in maintaining a tight vigil across the 192 sq km sanctuary.
The tribals will start assembling at Dalma football hills on May 6 and perform rituals the following day. They will start the trek on the morning of May 8 and come down by 3 pm. Traditional songs and dance will take place at Fadlugora village along the NH 33 in the afternoon.
"We took a unanimous decision for celebrating the hunting festival on May 8 which is considered to be auspicious," said Rakesh Hembrom, of the samiti. 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 much on cultural programme and related activities," he said. Both the outfits have also pledged to try and make Sendra a bloodless affair.
DBSDS general secretary Fakir Chandra Soren said they were united and would celebate Sendra on May 8.
Soren said they have convened a meeting at Asanbonoi village on April 23 to discuss how to celebrate the hunt festival sans bloodshed. “We will gather at Asanboni village to discuss steps for making Sendra a bloodless affair. I personally believe that killing innocent animals is futile. I am sure our brethren will understand this. We are committed not to kill any aniumals,” he claimed.
Both the outfits have also decided to deploy volunteers to present easy entry of firearms and traps. “Our deploy volunteers at strategic locations to check entry of firearms and traps. Only traditional weapons like bows, arrows and axe will be allowed. We have already asked our brethren to celebrate Sendra in a traditional way,” Hembrom said.
Meanwhile, the forest department is geared up to stop the tribals from hunting wild animals. Eleven strategic locations have been identified where members of Eco Club and villagers would be deployed to convince the tribals not to go for hunting.
“We are hopeful that the tribals would wake up early in the morning and worship their deities but will not go ahead for hunting as the senior functionaries of the Sendra Samiti has assured us about their plans, “noted a Dalma range forest officer.
It may be mentioned that every year, the forest department tries to aware villagers about the importance of wildlife and animals but still dozens of animals including deer, boar and wild buffaloes are killed during. Clad with hunting weapons like bows and arrows, they go into the jungle in search of animals by beating drums and chanting of holy hymns.