Rich Cultural Heritage and Tribal Traditions

Jharkhand’s rich cultural heritage and tribal traditions are deeply rooted in its history, people, and connection to nature. The state is home to over 32 tribal communities, including Santhal, Munda, Oraon, Ho, Kharia, and Birhor, each with its distinct language, customs, festivals, music, and art forms.

 Rich Cultural Heritage of Jharkhand

  1. Tribal Diversity
    • Tribes make up over 26% of the population.
    • Each tribe has its own language/dialect (e.g., Santhali, Mundari, Kurukh).
    • Communities are close-knit, deeply spiritual, and live in harmony with nature.
  1. Festivals and Rituals
    • Tribal festivals celebrate nature, harvest, ancestors, and deities.
      • Sarhul – Celebrates the Sal tree and nature, marked by song, dance, and rituals.
      • Karam – A harvest festival celebrated with music and symbolic tree worship.
      • Sohrai – Cattle festival with vibrant wall paintings.
      • Maghe Parab, Jitia, and Phagu are also widely celebrated.
    • Many festivals are tied to the agricultural cycle and moon phases.
  1. Dance and Music
    • Traditional tribal dances are energetic, rhythmic, and communal.
      • Chhau Dance – Semi-classical martial dance with colorful masks (especially in Seraikela).
      • Paika, Jadur, Santhali, Domkach, and Mundari dances.
    • Music includes use of drums (Mandar, Dhol), flutes, and tribal songs passed down generations.
  1. Art and Handicrafts
    • Sohrai and Khovar paintings: Tribal mural art using natural dyes and geometric patterns, often seen on mud walls.
    • Wood carving, bamboo craft, terracotta, and metalwork (Dokra art).
    • Jewelry and ornaments made from beads, seeds, and metals are common in tribal attire.
  1. Tribal Lifestyle
    • Most tribal people live in forest villages and practice subsistence farming, hunting, fishing, and gathering forest produce.
    • Houses are usually made of mud and thatch, often decorated with folk paintings.
  1. Spiritual Beliefs
    • Tribal faiths are animistic, worshiping nature, ancestors, and spirits.
    • Some tribes follow Sarna Dharma, a nature-based indigenous religion.
    • Others have adopted Hinduism, Christianity, or Sikhism over time.

    Cultural Preservation

    • Organizations and NGOs work to preserve tribal languages and folklore.
    • Tribal art and festivals are promoted through fairs (melas) and cultural centers like the Jharkhand Tribal Research Institute.