An Overview On Jharkhand: Culture

Culture of Jharkhand: An Introduction

It is due to the inhabitation of several different tribes that Jharkhand has emerged as a vital multi-ethnic Indian state. The state is a blend of different tribal cultures, some tribes here are influenced by Jainism and Buddhism, and some are influenced by the Hindus and Mughal kings. The lifestyle of Jharkhand depends on the various communities. It is the rituals, music, language, dance, and literature that influence The main culture of Jharkhand. 

Tribes in Jharkhand

Now that different tribes that inhabit Jharkhand have a great influence on the culture of the state, it is essential to know about the same tribes. There are about thirty indigenous communities that are residing in Jharkhand and some of these include Orans, Hos, Cheros, Mundas, Santhals, Savar, Kol, Kairas, and more. Here are some prominent tribes of Jharkhand:

Santhal

One of the largest tribes in the state, Santhals practice Hinduism, Christianity, and Saran Dharma. They speak the Santali language and Sohari is the most important festival of this community. 

Baiga

Baiga is mostly found in Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. As per Census 2011, Jharkhand is home to about 3585 people belonging to the Baiga community. The tribe strongly believes in mother nature and thus, prohibits plowing to procure food. Also, the community speaks the Bengali language.

Munda

One of the largest Scheduled Tribes in the state as well as India, Mundas practice Hinduism, Christianity, etc. They speak the Mundari language and have several dances, art, and music. Mage Parab, Sarhul, Sorhai, Phagu, and Karam are some main festivals celebrated by the Mundas community. 

Ho

Constituting about 10.7% of Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand, the Ho community is also found in the parts of Odisha, Bihar, and West Bengal. The Ho language is spoken by this tribe.

Asur

As per Census 2011, around 33,000 people belonging to the Asur community reside in Jharkhand. This tribe believes in black magic and the language spoken by the same is Birja. 

Festivals of Jharkhand

 Apart from the common festivals like Holi, Diwali, Chhat Puja, Christmas, and more, many tribal festivals like Sarhul, Hal Punya, Karma, etc are celebrated in Jharkhand. 

Chhat Puja

Chhat Puja in Jharkhand is performed to thank Lord Surya for sustaining life on earth. Sun, the god of energy and life force, is worshipped during this festival so that well-being, progress, and prosperity can be promoted. 

Karma

The Karam festival involves worshipping Karam devta who is the god of power and youthfulness. Groups of young people go to the jungle to collect fruits, wood, and flowers that are required in the Puja. This is one of the vibrant festivals in Jharkhand in which people sing and dance in groups. 

Tusu Parab or Makar

Tusu Parab is a harvest festival that is celebrated in the winter on the last day of Poshu month. This festival is held especially for the unmarried girls of Jharkhand. A wooden bamboo frame is decorated by the girls with colored paper and then the same is gifted to the nearby hilly river. Many scintillating songs reflecting the simplicity and innocence of tribal communities are also sung during this festival.

Folk Dance in Jharkhand

The folk music and dance represent the main culture of Jharkhand. The tribal communities inhabiting the state majorly contribute to maintaining and bringing the charisma of the music and dance practised in Jharkhand. Some of the folk dances of the state consist of Mardana, Mundari, Jhumair, Lahasua, Paika, and more.

Paika

The traditional Paika dance is famous in Jharkhand and is mainly performed by the Munda tribe. Paikas are believed to be a group of soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect their kingdom. The Paika traditional folk dance is a medium to represent the great war that took place between the Munda community and the Britishers in the past. An interesting fact about this dance form is that it is performed by male members of the Munda community.

Jhumair

Jhumair is the traditional folk dance performed by the Sadan community in Jharkhand. The dance is usually performed during the harvest season and to celebrate the festivals. Several instruments like Bansi, Dhak, Dhol, Shehnai, and more are used when performing Jhumair.

Lahasua

Performed by the tribes residing in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region, Lahasua is performed by both men and women using different instruments like Dhol, Bansi, Mandar, etc.

Conclusion

Jharkhand is home to several different tribes making the Indian state a blend of different tribal cultures. The main culture of Jharkhand is influenced by the lifestyle, religion, dance, music, art, festivals, etc practised by people of different tribal communities inhabited in the state. To know more about the prominent tribes, folk dance, festivals, art forms, cuisine, lifestyle, and languages of Jharkhand it is suggested to go through the above-mentioned article.