Jharkhand is a place renowned for its copious cultural feats. Damodar, Mayurakshi, barakar, Koyal, sankh, flows through out the region. These ameliorate the state with the bounty of flora and fauna. Vananchal, as it is popularly known , is also famous for its mineral and forest resources.
Jharkhand is a newly formed state, which has been segregated from Bihar. It, thus, witnessed transmigration of various people from West Bengal and Bihar, retaining their individual cultural traits intact. Thus this conglomeration of tribal culture thus ameliorates the culture of Jharkahand. Music , festivals, handicrafts, dance and other salient cultural elements cuisine and lifestyle of Jharkhandis corroborate the above proclamation.
Festival dance of JharkhandThe culture of Jharkhand stands nowhere without its rich treasure of ebullient festivals. The festivals like Sarhul, Karma, Sohrai, Badna, Tusu, Id, X-mas, Holi, Dushahra etc are celebrated in Jharkhand with loads of fun and frolic.
Sarhul is observed at the spring time when the tribes appease the village gods and sought their protection and safety. Flower Sarhul is given as offerings; it also symbolizes friendship and brotherhood .The tribal priest disperses these flowers to every village household.
Badna is a popular festival held during `Kartik Amavashya`. Animals are worshipped acknowledging their contributions to the society and also to pacify their destructive quality. The songs of this festival are popular as Ohira.
Tusu is observed as the common festival celebrating harvest time during winter season in the last day of the month of `Poush`. Rites and customs related to this festival are diligently maintained by the locales.
Held on the first day of the month of `Magh`, Hal Punhya is a winter festival celebrating the starting of ploughing. The day also symbolizes time to accumulate good luck and fate Rohin is probably the foremost folk festival . It symbolizes the growth of the sowing seeds in the landing field . No dance or song is composed for this festive occasion. Another festival popular among the tribes is Bhagta Parab, the festival for the devotees. Here the tribes worship `Budha Baba` and it is celebrated in the end of spring or in the beginning of summer season.
Music and Dance
Music and Dance of JharkhandFolk music and dance are part and parcel of the culture of Jharkhand. Simple and humdrum populace of tribal communities are infested with various social problems and difficulties which find an expression in their `desi` music styles. `Jhumar` has been derived from the word `Jhum` which means to sway. Although the content of these songs is diverse, they are commonly based on the theme of love and romance. Akhariya Domkach, Dohari Domkach, Janani Jhumar, Mardana Jhumar, Faguwa, Udasi, Pawas, Daidhara, Pahilsanjha, Adhratiya, Vinsariya, Pratkali, Jhumta etc are some folk music. These are often sung in accompaniment of musical instruments like Singa, Bansuri, Arbansi, and Sahnai. Rungtu Ghasi Ram, Ghasi Mahant are some eminent musicians who emerged from this Indian state.
Folk dance forms too bear the proof of the culture of Jharkhand. Paika, Chaw, Jadur, Karma, Nachni, Natua, Agni, Choukara, Santhal, Jamda, Ghatwari, Matha, Sohrai, Lurisayro etc. Paika is a form of martial dance popular among the paikas Jharkhand region. They practice this dance in `paika akh-adas` of their villages, Joy , fun, amusement are integral part of the tribal dancing of Jharkhand .
We cannot know the culture of Jharkhand without throwing some light of the cuisine of the region. Due to the wide prevalence of Bhuddism and its religious practices among the Jharkhandis , the preference of vegetarian foods is inevitable. Staple foods of the people of Jharkhand are wheat and rice. Primarily mustard oil is used as a medium of cooking The region is nutrified by the ample growth of different types of Vegetables. These, again, are being cooked in varied ways by the Jharkahndis. A regular meal comprises of dal, rice, phulka (roti), tarkari (sabzi) and achar (pickles). Each season brings with it the growing of various fruits and vegetables and it is the Jharkhandis who rightly have incorporated these seasons` gifts in open hands.
Prominent characteristic element of Bihari cuisine is their `chhonkna` (tadka) with `panchforan` (a mix of five seeds – saunf, sarson, methi, ajwain and mangraila). The people of Jharkand have developed the habit of frying the food . Spices and coloring are added to the dishes of Jharkahndi cuisine .
Sattu or powered gram is favourite eatable for Jharkhandis. Til Barfi, Litti , Aloo Choka are also savored by the Jharkhandis with great delight Various people scattered over the region have their own styles food habits differ in various regions of the state. The cooking method of tribes is quite different from the rest of the populace. . Mahua flour, maize, millets and edible roots and tubers are the main components of tribal meal in Jharkhand.
Lifestyle of the people of Jharkand is a must if we want to discuss about the culture of Jharkhand. It is a residence of 32 archaic tribes . Santhal, Asur, Banjara, Munda, Korwa are few among them.. Hindi and English are chief languages ; Urdu and Bengali and tribal languages like Santhali , Mundari , Kurukh too are widely spoken . Jharkhandis arduously practice religions like Jainism , Hinduism and Christianity . Moreover, the tribes of Jharkhand have their unique spiritual notions called Sarna Parasnath, Baidyanath Dham complex of Deoghar are some important consecrated places in Jharkhand. Naturally the myriads of religious pilgrims frequent these places thereby leading to the construction of big hotels in the region. Anand Hotel ,Ganga Ashram Hotel , Hotel Akash Ganga ,Hotel Aloka ,efficiently, suffice to the requirements of their lodgers.
Bamboo Craft of JharkhandFolk spirit defines the unique features of culture of Jharkand and what else can denote it than the art and crafts of the Jharkand. Woodcrafts of Jharkand are popular and various items like panels for doors, windows, wooden spoons have demands in the national market. Bamboo crafts made from a special thin and strong bamboo trees are in thing in household décor. The folk artists of Jharkhand area are expert in paitkar paintings. Masks too are made by the expert hands representing moral elemental passions, better known as tamasik. Special types of toys of abstract features are popular; these are wood chips painted to resemble like human chassis with angulated lines and no disjoined limbs.
The culture of Jharkhand traces the tradition of the tribal society of Indian society ,also remaining unperturbed by the trends of modernization. Rather it asserts its originality and ethnicity and continue to do so. Music, dance, lifestyle, art are the torchbearers of this trend of the cultural tradition.
Source from: Indianetzone.com/4/culture_jharkhand.htm