Sarhul

Sarhul-Bihar
About:
Sarhul is the festival of flowers and is the most popular of all the tribal festivals. The festival is observed by Mundas, Oraon and Santhal tribal communities, inhabiting in the regions of Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar. The Santhals call it Baha and celebrated it in February-March while the Oraons celebrate in the month of March-April. Sarhul literally means ‘Worship of Sal’. Sarhul is the worship of nature in which the people worship Dharti Mata as Sita, the wife of Lord Ram. They also worship water, wind, plants and animals. During the festival, Sal flowers are brought to the sarna (sacred grove) and the priest propitiates all the gods of the tribes. Hadia or Diang, a wine made of stale rice is the ’Prasad’ of this festival.

Sarhul Festival, Bihar, which is similar to the festival of Indian Vasant-Mahotsav, is a festival of flowers. This event offers scope for great merriment, festivity and enjoyment for people of the different age groups. Young maidens and youths sing and dance all night long to the beat of the drums, while the elderly crowd, sit around and watch them and enjoy their song and dance. Sarhul Festival in Bihar is celebrated by the tribal communities of Oraon, Mundras, and Santhal, who populate the regions of Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa. The Santhals refer to this festival as Baha and celebrate it with great pomp and joy during the months of February and March. On the other hand, the Oraons, celebrate this festival in the months of March and April. They perform a traditional Sarhul Dance at this time. Sarhul Festival lasts for a number of days.The literal meaning of Sarhul is ‘Worship of Sal.

This is a festival where nature and the soil are worshiped. The people worship the motherland, Dharti Mata as Sita, the wife of Lord Ram. The other elements of nature are worshiped are the plants, animals, wind and water. During Sarhul Festival in Bihar, the Sal flowers are brought to the sacred grove or sarna. After this, the priest begins to make peace with the gods of the various tribes. The “Prasad” of the Sarhul Festival is called Diang or Hadia. This is wine, which is made of stale rice. Sarhul Festival in Bihar is one of the most popular tribal festivals in the region. It is a festival of flowers, which you must witness during your Bihar Tours. This Bihar festival is extremely enjoyable. Be sure to experience the Sarhul Festival in Bihar.
Time(indian calendar Tithi):
Best time to visit: Sarhul Festival in Bihar is celebrated on the last day of Baisakh, which falls in the month of April.
Climate/Weather:
Jharkhand climate in general is tropical with hot summers and cold winters. There are regional variations. Some parts of the state like Ranchi,Netarhat, and Parasnath have pleasant climate even during the summers. Maximum rainfall takes place during the months from July to September accounting for more than 90% of total rainfall in the state.
History:
The most important festival for the tribals of Chotanagpur is Sarhul, which translates as the Sal tree blossom, held at the beginning of spring. Sal trees are worshipped in the sacred grove. Different tribes have different ways of celebrating this festival, but each one worships the spirit of the Sal tree to seek its blessings for a good harvest.The deities are worshipped with shaal flowers. The shaal flowers represent the brotherhood and friendship among villagers. The priest is called Pahan and he distributes shaal flowers to every villager. The Prasad is then distributed among the villagers.
Importance of festival:
It is an important festival of Mundas,celebrated in the month of April. This festival iscelebrated to worship their ancestors. Legend says that once a lion ran after a man and the man escaped and saved his life by hiding himself behind the bush. He at once resolved that once in a year he will offer Sakua’s flowers and leaves and sacrifice a living animal. Since then this festival has been celebrated by the Munda people.
Method of Celebration:
Puja:
During the puja, Pahan comes with three pitchers to Sarna, out of which two pitchers are filled with pond water. It is widely believed by the Mundas that if the water level gets reduced overnight rains fail to come through the year and if the water level remains the same, monsoon arrives on time.Since it is prohibited for women to go to Sarna all the men go to Sarna to offer Sakua’s flowers and leaves along with Arwa rice, handia and three hens.On the first day cooked Arwa rice is offered to Sarna, and then the people eat it.On the second day third pitcher is filled with handia and kept in front of Sarna and accepted as prasad.  

cooking:
On the third day, a hen is sacrificed and eaten after cooking it.If some food material is left over then it is brought to the home and then eaten only by the males. Women are forbidden to eat chicken to let it pick the rice. Munda’s wife also plays an important role in this process.Pahan’s wife with a chicken and all the other women move forward by singing a song and keeping the pitchers on their heads.

pitchers:
After covering some distance they stop and place their pitchers on the ground, remove impurities from it and wipe on the ground and again they put and wipe on the ground and again they put doing so they reach the border of the village and put their pitchers on the ground and worship. Then they break the pitchers with the stick and leave a chicken in the jungle and run back into the village by some other path.
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Culture of festivities:
The Sarhul festival is celebrated in merry mood, festivity, and enjoyment among people of different age groups. Young maidens and youths sing and dance all night to the beat of the drums, while the elderly crowds, sit around, watch them, and enjoy their song and dance. The tribal communities of Oraon, Mundras, and Santhal celebrate Sarhul Festival in Bihar.The tribal communities that celebrate this festival are spread in Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa. The Santhals refer to this festival as Baha and celebrate it with great pomp and joy during the months of February and March. On the other hand, the Oraons, celebrate this festival in the months of March and April. They perform a traditional Sarhul Dance at this time. Sarhul Festival lasts for a number of days.
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