Sunday, 10 March 2013
SANTAL FESTIVAL
Festivals:
Santhals celebrate loads of
festivals in different
occasion. Santhals follow
cycle of nature and
agricultural term to celebrate
festivals and celebrate
festivals accordingly. They
celebrate this festival to
invocations the Nature for
helping them in getting where
ever they have and
sometime to increase their
wealth and free them from all
the enemies. It is the
tradition among the Santhals
to grow the tree outside
their house after the
purification process for
different purposes.
The Santhals celebrate other
festival like, Sohorai, from
the end of Paush and for the
entire month of Magh.
“Karam” festival is
celebrated by the Santhals in
the month of Aswin
(September- October) in
order to have increased
`wealth and progeny` and to
get rid of the evil spirits.
During this festival, two
youths after being purified,
fetch two branches of Karam
tree from the forest and
plant them just outside the
house. Other festivals of the
Santhal community include
Maghe, Sakrat, Baba
Bonga, Sahrai, Ero,
Asaria and Namah. They
also celebrate haunting
festival called Disum
sendra on the eve of
Baishakhi Purnima.
Ero (Paddy sowing
festival)
The Santals, Mahali, Bhumija
and Lodha celebrate this
festival on the day of
‘Akshitrutiya’ to worship
mother earth with religions
flavor and enthusiasm. The
black cock is offered as
sacrifice with non-boiled rice,
flower, Vermillion and
incense sticks to propitiate
mother earth for bumper
harvest, prosperity peaceful
and disease free life. Dance
amidst traditional tribal
songs and beating of drums
rent the air, which makes the
festival quite enjoyable.
Jamtala Bonga (Jantal
Festival):
This festival is celebrated
when the ear of paddy hangs
downward exclusively in the
year when crop is destroyed
due to scanty rainfall. The fill
treated as God is offered
male goat as sacrifice with a
belief that propitiation of hill
God will bring about bumper
crops. The male goat so
killed is distributed among
the villagers.
Karam Parva:
This festival is celebrated in
the month of ‘Ashwina’ or
‘Kartika’ and the auspicious
day in fixed by the village
meeting. A ‘Karam Bough’ is
planted on the altar in the
middle of village. The village
maids offer molasses non-
boiled rice, flower and
vermillion then story of
‘Karamdharan’, the God of
fate is recited and it
continues amidst dance, song
and beating of drums till
morning and then immersion
of ‘Karam Bough’ is
solemnised with the
blessings of God of fate the
life becomes enriched with
health and this is their
sincere belief.
Makar Parva:
The prime festival of
Santhals is celebrated with
pomp and grandeur by
Adivasis month of ‘Pausha’
and English month ‘January’
when the paddy reaping is
half done and the mind is
free from all lures and
anxieties. Irrespective of
colour and crew and age all
partake in religious gaiety
and fervour.
This festival lasts for three
days and celebration
primarily starts night before
‘Makar Sankranti’. First day
is celebrated since morning
by the burning of log of
woods in the bank of river
or near water reservoir. It is
told as ‘Kumbha‘, done
mostly by the children and
teens. The process is done
in the early morning. Day of
Sakrat, everyone in the
family will take bath early
and wear new cloths. In
every household ‘Makar
Chaula’ and delicious cakes
are prepared. After that
head of the family offer food
and drinks to ancestors and
Ora bongs (house God) in
the inner most (Bhitar
orah) part of the house. In
other words we can say the
deities are worshipped. After
having food which includes
mutton curry, chicken, pork,
lamb, sheep, palatable cakes
and country liquor ‘Handia‘,
in every village or collection
of villages’, male will
participate in archery
competition and female come
to witness. First village
priest “Naike” will purify
the target and set the
distance for competitors.
Three chances will be
provided until someone hit
the target. If someone hit the
target, then he’ll be the
winner and awarded with
garland of flowers and
someone (assign by headman
of village) will take him in
shoulder till “Gosande”.
Manjhi/Naike will worship
and is followed with singing,
dancing and playing of
instrumental music. All those
present there, are given
rice-beer. Winner will be
accompanied by Santhali
traditional dance, song and
music. In that occasion men
and women dance in the
“Gosande” till late night
with boisterous music, songs
and drums. The traditional
dress of Santhal women is
called Pandhat, which is a
covering from the chest to
the foot.
Second and third day is for
the occasion of Makar a
special ‘Monkey Dance’
named as ‘Gari-aseen’ is
performed. The tribal folks
adorning their bodies in
many forms roam door to
door asking for paddy, rice
and cakes, which becomes
quite enjoyable. Also female
makes-up by men and dance
with tradition songs and
drums called “Budhi-Gari”.
Finally in a village meeting all
the collected items will be
disclosed. And villagers will
organized for feast or grand
village party on some free
day. Rice will be distributed
to different household to
brew rice whisky or rice beer
and collected on the day of
grand village party.
Relatives are also invited to
join.
By nature, the Santhals love
Dance, Music and wine. There
cannot be a festival without
these. Their fairs and
festivals are very colorful
Santhals celebrate loads of
festivals in different
occasion. Santhals follow
cycle of nature and
agricultural term to celebrate
festivals and celebrate
festivals accordingly. They
celebrate this festival to
invocations the Nature for
helping them in getting where
ever they have and
sometime to increase their
wealth and free them from all
the enemies. It is the
tradition among the Santhals
to grow the tree outside
their house after the
purification process for
different purposes.
The Santhals celebrate other
festival like, Sohorai, from
the end of Paush and for the
entire month of Magh.
“Karam” festival is
celebrated by the Santhals in
the month of Aswin
(September- October) in
order to have increased
`wealth and progeny` and to
get rid of the evil spirits.
During this festival, two
youths after being purified,
fetch two branches of Karam
tree from the forest and
plant them just outside the
house. Other festivals of the
Santhal community include
Maghe, Sakrat, Baba
Bonga, Sahrai, Ero,
Asaria and Namah. They
also celebrate haunting
festival called Disum
sendra on the eve of
Baishakhi Purnima.
Ero (Paddy sowing
festival)
The Santals, Mahali, Bhumija
and Lodha celebrate this
festival on the day of
‘Akshitrutiya’ to worship
mother earth with religions
flavor and enthusiasm. The
black cock is offered as
sacrifice with non-boiled rice,
flower, Vermillion and
incense sticks to propitiate
mother earth for bumper
harvest, prosperity peaceful
and disease free life. Dance
amidst traditional tribal
songs and beating of drums
rent the air, which makes the
festival quite enjoyable.
Jamtala Bonga (Jantal
Festival):
This festival is celebrated
when the ear of paddy hangs
downward exclusively in the
year when crop is destroyed
due to scanty rainfall. The fill
treated as God is offered
male goat as sacrifice with a
belief that propitiation of hill
God will bring about bumper
crops. The male goat so
killed is distributed among
the villagers.
Karam Parva:
This festival is celebrated in
the month of ‘Ashwina’ or
‘Kartika’ and the auspicious
day in fixed by the village
meeting. A ‘Karam Bough’ is
planted on the altar in the
middle of village. The village
maids offer molasses non-
boiled rice, flower and
vermillion then story of
‘Karamdharan’, the God of
fate is recited and it
continues amidst dance, song
and beating of drums till
morning and then immersion
of ‘Karam Bough’ is
solemnised with the
blessings of God of fate the
life becomes enriched with
health and this is their
sincere belief.
Makar Parva:
The prime festival of
Santhals is celebrated with
pomp and grandeur by
Adivasis month of ‘Pausha’
and English month ‘January’
when the paddy reaping is
half done and the mind is
free from all lures and
anxieties. Irrespective of
colour and crew and age all
partake in religious gaiety
and fervour.
This festival lasts for three
days and celebration
primarily starts night before
‘Makar Sankranti’. First day
is celebrated since morning
by the burning of log of
woods in the bank of river
or near water reservoir. It is
told as ‘Kumbha‘, done
mostly by the children and
teens. The process is done
in the early morning. Day of
Sakrat, everyone in the
family will take bath early
and wear new cloths. In
every household ‘Makar
Chaula’ and delicious cakes
are prepared. After that
head of the family offer food
and drinks to ancestors and
Ora bongs (house God) in
the inner most (Bhitar
orah) part of the house. In
other words we can say the
deities are worshipped. After
having food which includes
mutton curry, chicken, pork,
lamb, sheep, palatable cakes
and country liquor ‘Handia‘,
in every village or collection
of villages’, male will
participate in archery
competition and female come
to witness. First village
priest “Naike” will purify
the target and set the
distance for competitors.
Three chances will be
provided until someone hit
the target. If someone hit the
target, then he’ll be the
winner and awarded with
garland of flowers and
someone (assign by headman
of village) will take him in
shoulder till “Gosande”.
Manjhi/Naike will worship
and is followed with singing,
dancing and playing of
instrumental music. All those
present there, are given
rice-beer. Winner will be
accompanied by Santhali
traditional dance, song and
music. In that occasion men
and women dance in the
“Gosande” till late night
with boisterous music, songs
and drums. The traditional
dress of Santhal women is
called Pandhat, which is a
covering from the chest to
the foot.
Second and third day is for
the occasion of Makar a
special ‘Monkey Dance’
named as ‘Gari-aseen’ is
performed. The tribal folks
adorning their bodies in
many forms roam door to
door asking for paddy, rice
and cakes, which becomes
quite enjoyable. Also female
makes-up by men and dance
with tradition songs and
drums called “Budhi-Gari”.
Finally in a village meeting all
the collected items will be
disclosed. And villagers will
organized for feast or grand
village party on some free
day. Rice will be distributed
to different household to
brew rice whisky or rice beer
and collected on the day of
grand village party.
Relatives are also invited to
join.
By nature, the Santhals love
Dance, Music and wine. There
cannot be a festival without
these. Their fairs and
festivals are very colorful
ART AND CULTURE OF THE SANTALS
Art and Culture of the
Santals:
Santali culture is such that it
had and has been attracting
many scholars and
anthropologists since
centuries. The first attempt
to study the Santali culture
was done by the Mughals
and which followed by the
Christian missionaries. The
most famous of them was the
Norwegian-born Reverend
Paul Olaf Bodding. Unlike
many other adivasi groups
of the Indian subcontinent,
the Santals are known for
preserving their native
language despite waves of
migrations and invasions
from Mughals, Europeans,
British and others.
Santali culture is depicted in
the paintings and artworks in
the walls of their houses.
Local mythology includes the
stories of the Santhal
ancestors Pilchu Haram
and Pilchu Bhudi.
The Santhal people love
music and dance. Like other
Indian people groups, their
culture has not been
influenced by any mainstream
Indian culture and or by
Western culture, but
traditional Santhals have
own way of music and dance.
Santali music differs from
Hindustani classical music in
significant ways. Onkar
Prasad has done the most
recent work on the music of
the Santhal but others
preceded his work. The
Santal traditionally
accompany many of their
dances with two drums: the
Tamak‘ and the Tumdak’.
The flute (tiriao) was
considered the most
important Santhal traditional
instrument and still evokes
feelings of nostalgia for
many Santhals. Santali dance
and music traditionally
revolved around Santhal
religious celebrations.
However, Santhal music and
dance both retain
connections to traditional
celebrations. The names of
many Santhal tunes are
derived from the traditional
ritual with which they were
once associated. Sohrai
tunes, for example, were
those sung at the Sohrai
festival. Santali rituals are
mainly comprised of sacrificial
offerings and invocations to
the spirits, or bongas.
The Santhals are musicians
and dancers par excellence
and have dances for every
imaginable occasion. The
martial dances – Golwari and
Paikha are marked with
vigor, virility and a lot of
jumping and leaping in the
air. They carry bow and
arrows while doing martial
dances and perform mock
fights and attacks. Their
courtship and marriage
dances are typical. These
dances, romantic and lively
in nature, are performed on
full moon nights. The loud
drumming, resembling
thunder, calls the belles of
the community and they come
dressed in their fineries,
adorned with flowers,
feathers and assemble under
a large banyan tree. The
young men come forward
taking strides with drums
and lilting songs on their
lips, and then the dance
commences in two rows, their
arms interlinking in pairs.
The rows surge forward like
rhythmic waves and then
recede with supple footwork
and swaying heads and
bodies. The boys in the row
opposite play on flutes,
drums, and large cymbals
and sing songs in perfect
harmony. After the dance the
boys and girls mingle and
have a good chat.
Santhal’s have their hunting
and sowing dances. On
Dassai festival men-folk
dance from one locality to
another. Then there are the
Jhika and the Lagren type
dances in which men and
women dance together. Men
form the outer ring and the
women the inner circle. The
Dhong and Lagren are
exclusively confined to
women. The Lagren has
many forms and variations
according to the occasion, be
it a marriage, a festival or
social gathering. All these
dances reflect their collective
nature, cohesion, community
feeling and social awareness.
They are great spontaneous
collective singers and
dancers. The Santhal women
and girls can be seen singing
and dancing while engaged in
their daily chore like sowing,
plantation, journeying to and
from the forest. They work
and sing simultaneously and
in between pause for a
round of dance. They use
song and music as a
convenient tool of dancing.
Dance is a super ordinate
and all the rest is
subordinate.
Adivasi Religio
Santals:
Santali culture is such that it
had and has been attracting
many scholars and
anthropologists since
centuries. The first attempt
to study the Santali culture
was done by the Mughals
and which followed by the
Christian missionaries. The
most famous of them was the
Norwegian-born Reverend
Paul Olaf Bodding. Unlike
many other adivasi groups
of the Indian subcontinent,
the Santals are known for
preserving their native
language despite waves of
migrations and invasions
from Mughals, Europeans,
British and others.
Santali culture is depicted in
the paintings and artworks in
the walls of their houses.
Local mythology includes the
stories of the Santhal
ancestors Pilchu Haram
and Pilchu Bhudi.
The Santhal people love
music and dance. Like other
Indian people groups, their
culture has not been
influenced by any mainstream
Indian culture and or by
Western culture, but
traditional Santhals have
own way of music and dance.
Santali music differs from
Hindustani classical music in
significant ways. Onkar
Prasad has done the most
recent work on the music of
the Santhal but others
preceded his work. The
Santal traditionally
accompany many of their
dances with two drums: the
Tamak‘ and the Tumdak’.
The flute (tiriao) was
considered the most
important Santhal traditional
instrument and still evokes
feelings of nostalgia for
many Santhals. Santali dance
and music traditionally
revolved around Santhal
religious celebrations.
However, Santhal music and
dance both retain
connections to traditional
celebrations. The names of
many Santhal tunes are
derived from the traditional
ritual with which they were
once associated. Sohrai
tunes, for example, were
those sung at the Sohrai
festival. Santali rituals are
mainly comprised of sacrificial
offerings and invocations to
the spirits, or bongas.
The Santhals are musicians
and dancers par excellence
and have dances for every
imaginable occasion. The
martial dances – Golwari and
Paikha are marked with
vigor, virility and a lot of
jumping and leaping in the
air. They carry bow and
arrows while doing martial
dances and perform mock
fights and attacks. Their
courtship and marriage
dances are typical. These
dances, romantic and lively
in nature, are performed on
full moon nights. The loud
drumming, resembling
thunder, calls the belles of
the community and they come
dressed in their fineries,
adorned with flowers,
feathers and assemble under
a large banyan tree. The
young men come forward
taking strides with drums
and lilting songs on their
lips, and then the dance
commences in two rows, their
arms interlinking in pairs.
The rows surge forward like
rhythmic waves and then
recede with supple footwork
and swaying heads and
bodies. The boys in the row
opposite play on flutes,
drums, and large cymbals
and sing songs in perfect
harmony. After the dance the
boys and girls mingle and
have a good chat.
Santhal’s have their hunting
and sowing dances. On
Dassai festival men-folk
dance from one locality to
another. Then there are the
Jhika and the Lagren type
dances in which men and
women dance together. Men
form the outer ring and the
women the inner circle. The
Dhong and Lagren are
exclusively confined to
women. The Lagren has
many forms and variations
according to the occasion, be
it a marriage, a festival or
social gathering. All these
dances reflect their collective
nature, cohesion, community
feeling and social awareness.
They are great spontaneous
collective singers and
dancers. The Santhal women
and girls can be seen singing
and dancing while engaged in
their daily chore like sowing,
plantation, journeying to and
from the forest. They work
and sing simultaneously and
in between pause for a
round of dance. They use
song and music as a
convenient tool of dancing.
Dance is a super ordinate
and all the rest is
subordinate.
Adivasi Religio
HISTORY OF SANTAL
History of Santhals
Histories of Santhals are
only persisting in songs and
folklore of Santhal tribe
itself. Historians from
different region have come
and wrote different things
regarding them and large
populations believe that is
only the truth about
Santhals. Pandit
Raghunath Murmu, who
develops Santhali
manuscript, written Santhals
are from Pre Aryan period.
And they were the real great
fighters during British
regime. Santhals were the
first who fought against
Permanent Settlement Act of
Lord Cornwallis during 1855.
It was during late 1850, when
Sidhu Murmu, Kanhu
Murmu, Chand Murmu
and Bhairo Murmu
hoarded around 85,000
Santhals to wage a war
against British to object all
the law which were
objectionable to them at that
point of time..
So, Santhals with their entire
musical instrument (like
Tumdak, Tamak,
Banam, and Trio) and
weapons (Aag-Saar, Kapi,
Tarwade) start moving
towards Calcutta. But they
had to face British army on
the way and could not able to
reach Calcutta.
It is also recorded that
“Baba Tilka Majhi” was
the first Santhal’s leather
who raise weapons against
the British in 1789. It was
due to great famine in 1770
and the consequences of
“Court of Directors” orders
influenced by British Prime
Minister Pitt the Younger.
Court of Director issued ten
year of the settlement of
Zamindari and later in 1800,
it was permanent. This
resulted in minimal chance to
negotiate between local
Zamindars and Santhal
villagers. Baba Tilka
Majhi made bold step to kill
one of the British lieutenant
with arrow from the top of
banyan tree. Later Baba
Tilka majhi was hanged till
death from the same tree to
show example for such
deeds.
Histories of Santhals are
only persisting in songs and
folklore of Santhal tribe
itself. Historians from
different region have come
and wrote different things
regarding them and large
populations believe that is
only the truth about
Santhals. Pandit
Raghunath Murmu, who
develops Santhali
manuscript, written Santhals
are from Pre Aryan period.
And they were the real great
fighters during British
regime. Santhals were the
first who fought against
Permanent Settlement Act of
Lord Cornwallis during 1855.
It was during late 1850, when
Sidhu Murmu, Kanhu
Murmu, Chand Murmu
and Bhairo Murmu
hoarded around 85,000
Santhals to wage a war
against British to object all
the law which were
objectionable to them at that
point of time..
So, Santhals with their entire
musical instrument (like
Tumdak, Tamak,
Banam, and Trio) and
weapons (Aag-Saar, Kapi,
Tarwade) start moving
towards Calcutta. But they
had to face British army on
the way and could not able to
reach Calcutta.
It is also recorded that
“Baba Tilka Majhi” was
the first Santhal’s leather
who raise weapons against
the British in 1789. It was
due to great famine in 1770
and the consequences of
“Court of Directors” orders
influenced by British Prime
Minister Pitt the Younger.
Court of Director issued ten
year of the settlement of
Zamindari and later in 1800,
it was permanent. This
resulted in minimal chance to
negotiate between local
Zamindars and Santhal
villagers. Baba Tilka
Majhi made bold step to kill
one of the British lieutenant
with arrow from the top of
banyan tree. Later Baba
Tilka majhi was hanged till
death from the same tree to
show example for such
deeds.
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