Christmas festivities grip nation
A spirit of festivity pervaded across the country as midnight masses, resonance of carols and merriment ushered in Christmas on…
The tribal calendar is dotted with umpteen rituals that are performed to ensure peace and prosperity of the tribes. The ‘Karam’ or the festival of cultivation is one such ritual celebrated from the last week of August to 15 September. “While Sarhul is a festival that beings with hunting and ends with the hope of a good agricultural produce, ‘Karam’ is related to cultivation and involves sowing, sprouting and tending crops.
While Sarhul is observe mainly by the Adivasis. Karam is meant for all. Adivasis, Sadans and the Moolvasis. Along with expectations of a good crop. The Karam festival is an agricultural festival celebrated by diverse groups of people, including the Ho, Mundadri, Oraon, Kharia, Panch Pargania, Kurukh, Khortha, Korba, Santhali, Nagpuri,and Kurmali speaking people. Groups of young villagers go to the jungle and collect wood, fruits, and flowers. These are required during the puja of Karam God. During this period, people sing and dance together in groups. The entire valley dances to the drumbeat "day of the phases.
Gurva Soren, a researcher of tribal culture, said that "Karam" is a festival of sisterhood,friendship, and cultural unity. The festival "Karam" also has a close link with nature. Tribes worship trees during this festival as they are source of livelihood,and they pray to mother nature to keep their farmlands green and ensure a rich harvest. It is believed that it leads to good germination increases the fertility of land.
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The devotees keep a day-long fast and worship the branches of Karam or Kadam and sal. Girls celebrate the festival for welfare, friendship and brotherhood by exchanging a jawa flower. Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assembly Odisha Sananda Marandi said that Karam has also become an occasion for the sisters to wish for their brothers’ successful life. This mood of revelry continues till Dashera and Deepavali. Zilla Parishad President Prakash Soren said that it is a community based festival of tribes and is celebrated in several states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
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