Get ready to celebrate the biggest festival of Jharkhand

Sirhul: Sarhul is a major festival celebrated all over Jharkhand with great pomp and show. Tribal people celebrate New Year on this day. It is during the time of Sarhul that nature starts showing its new form when we see new flowers and leaves emerging from the trees. Sarhul is made up of two words – ‘Sar’ which means Sakhua or annual flower and ‘Hul’ which means revolution. Sarhul is called the festival of revolution of Sakhua flower. This festival is celebrated on the third day of Amavasya in the month of Chaitra. However, in some villages it is celebrated throughout the month. People dance, sing and worship in the Akhara on this day. Processions are taken out at many places on the day of Sarhul. Organizing the procession in Sarhul started in 1967. It was started by tribal leader Kartik Oraon. On this day, tribals put up white and red Sarna flags in their homes.

Importance of Sarhul for tribals

Sarhul festival is especially celebrated to worship nature. Sakhua flower has great importance in this festival. Sakhua flower is offered during Sarhul Puja. Sarhul reflects the culture and tradition of the tribals. Only after this festival the tribals start any new work. Farmers start farming work only after Sarhul Puja. Tribal people have always been coming here worshiping nature, there is an unbreakable bond between nature and tribals. Nature is the source of survival for tribals. Sarhul festival gives us the message of saving nature. It is celebrated by many tribes in Jharkhand especially the Munda, Ho and Oraon tribes.

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Customs and traditions related to Sarhul festival

In Sarhul Puja, the marriage of earth and sun is performed. On this day the Sal tree is worshiped and prayers are offered for a good harvest. A day before Sarhul, water is filled in two pitchers and on the second day, puja is performed and it is seen from which side the water is flowing from the pitcher. It is believed that rain comes from the direction from which water flows. If more water flows from the pitcher then it is believed that there will be more rainfall that year. There are other beliefs associated with this day like Khichdi is prepared by Pahan or priest. There is a belief that rain comes from the direction from which the Khichdi starts boiling. Crab is also considered special in Sarhul Puja, on the day of Sarhul Puja, Pahan catches the crab and hangs it in the puja room. When the time comes for paddy weaving, crab powder is prepared and mixed with cow dung. It is believed that this results in a good harvest.

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