Sohrai: A tribal festival celebrating cattles and nature
Sohrai is a harvest festival celebrated on Amavasya (new moon) by tribal people in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. It coincides with the festival of Govardhan Puja and involves singing, dancing and delicious food.
Sohrai, also called cattle festival, is an important celebration for the tribal communities in Jharkhand. People pray for their cattle which are integral to their household and livelihood.
During the six day celebration women wear new clothes and beautiful tribal ornaments. Men and women go around the village singing, dancing and celebrating Sohari.
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According to tribal folktales, Marang Buru, the mountain deity, ascended to heaven and wished for the good things to descend to earth. Upon assurance from Marang Buru the celestial, divine creatures agreed to travel to earth marking the beginning of Sohrai.
The young play the game lath on the second day of Sohrai, also called Gohal Puja. On this day a pooja (worship) is done at night to honor the cattles. There is a round of dancing followed by a community feast.
On the sixth and last day the tribals go out in herds to hunt rabbits, pheasants and other animals which are later distributed as prasad.
Reporting and photograph by Monika Marandi. She is an independent journalist based in Delhi. She is a Rural Media Fellow 2022 at Youth Hub, Village Square.
The lead image at the top shows women dressed up and dancing and singing in the festivals.