Tag: hindu

Murshidabad triple murder: Protest held by members of various Hindu outfits in Ranchi

Source: indiatoday.in

Various members of Hindu organisations, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), protested in Ranchi, Jharkhand on Sunday against the triple murder of a family in Murshidabad.

According to sources, at least 100 people joined the protest to show solidarity to the RS-associated family that was allegedly murdered in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on October 10.

The agitators recreated the murder scene by performing a play, said sources.

The state police found the bodies of Bondhu Gopal Pal, a 35-year-old primary school teacher, his wife beauty, and, son which were found lying in a pool of blood at their residence in Jiaganj area of Murshidabad.

The incident came to light after the neighbours did not see the family members at the Vijayadashami celebrations in the area.

Videos and graphic photos the dead family members did rounds on social media platforms too.

The triple Murshidabad case invoked sharp reactions against Kolkata police and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

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.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:
Nearest Airport:
Road Transport:
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.
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
 
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:
Nearest Hospital:
Society/Community Phone Number:

Sonepur Fair – a Bihar Prime Tourist Destination

A traditional Fair that has remained pristine in its charm through the ages it is also the largest cattle fair in Asia.

Legend has it that two brothers, devotees of Lord Vishnu, one wily and the other honest, cast a spell upon each other making one an elephant and the other a crocodile. On a Kartik Purnima day, the honest elephant went to the confluence of the holy river Ganga and Gandak to bathe and was attacked by the wily crocodile. Lord Vishnu himself intervened and helped the good triumph over the evil. With Lord Vishnu’s help the elephant prevailed upon the Crocodile.

Boats at the river banks, a large no. of elephants, camels, horses, cows, buffaloes, oxen, goats, dogs, cats & birds for sale, loosely robed sadhus (holy men), freshly washed animals, shops on the pavements overflowing with goods, swirling crowds in colourful dresses and joyful moods, curious onlookers-such are the scenes that dominate this wonderful fair.

A unique Fair in which imposing Indian elephants are the prime attraction. The central draw of the fair is cattle trade. All species of birds, poultry, bovines and beasts of burden specially elephants, have a market here.

The post-harvest season for paddy crops coincides with this fair. Sales are brisk in food grains, readymade garments, agricultural implements, weapons, furniture, perfumes, costume jewellery, handcrafted folk toys and utensils in wood, copper, brass and steel.

The fair entertains visitors with ‘nautanki’- a typical traditional musical drama performance. Other attractions are the circus, magic shows, fortune-telling parrots, and pedlers of fancy goods.

The Sonepur Mela is indeed A Fair to Remember, year after year.

Fair Duration: A fortnight following the first full moon day in the Hindu month of Kartik Shukla Paksh (Kartik Purnima), which occurs in the period October/ November. Precise duration to be checked up every January.

How to reach: Sonepur is 25 kms across the river Ganga from Patna, the capital city of Bihar, which receives direct daily flights from Delhi and Calcutta, and is a major railway junction also linked by road to important towns on the Calcutta-Delhi route.

Where to stay: Fully furnished Swiss-type Cottages (with attached western toilets) in the Tourist village set up at the Sonepur Fair grounds, supported by catering and security facilities, and offering complimentary elephant ride.

For detailed information, accommodation and transport bookings please contact: Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) Tourist Bhawan, 
Beer Chand Patel Path, Patna-800 001
Tel: 0612-2225411, 2210219.
Fax: 0612-2236218