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Description

KARMA FESTIVAL

Source: IndianExpress

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Context

Tribal populations in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Odisha celebrated the harvest festival of Karma or Karam Parv.

About the festival

The festival marks the worship of the Karam tree.
The tree is seen as a symbol of Karam Devta or Karamsani, the god of strength, youth, and vitality.
It is primarily observed during the Kharif harvest season.
The festival is popular especially among the Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal peoples.
The central ritual of the Karam festival involves planting a Karam sapling or bringing branches from a nearby forest.
They also planted the stem of Chirchitti (chaff flower) and Sindwar (chaste tree) in their paddy fields, which, according to Tirkey, acted as natural insecticides.
The tree is worshipped by women, who fast for the well-being of their brothers.
Towards the end of the Karam festival, branches from sal or bhelua trees are often planted in the fields.
At the end of the day, the branches are taken to rivers or lakes for immersion.

Tribal Harvest Festivals

Festival Name	Location	Tribe	Significance
*Karam Festival*	Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha	Oraon, Munda, Ho	Celebrates the Karam tree; prayers for a good harvest and prosperity
*Chapchar Kut*	Mizoram	Mizo	Marks the clearing of forests for agricultural activities
*Wangala Festival*	Meghalaya	Garo	Thanksgiving to the Sun God for a bountiful harvest
*Bhagoria Festival*	Madhya Pradesh	Bhil, Bhilala	Marks the end of winter and start of spring; matchmaking festival
*Kut Festival*	Manipur	Kuki, Chin, Mizo	Post-harvest festival celebrating agricultural success
*Aoling Festival*	Nagaland	Konyak	Marks the arrival of spring and the new year
*Bihu Festival*	Assam	Bodo, Assamese communities	Celebrates the Assamese New Year and harvest
*Madai Festival*	Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh	Gond	Dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari for prosperity
*Sarhul Festival*	Jharkhand	Oraon, Munda	Worship of nature and the Sal tree to seek blessings for good crops
*Phool Dei*	Uttarakhand	Kumaon tribes	Celebrates the arrival of spring and prosperity
*Hornbill Festival*	Nagaland	Naga tribes	Celebrates Naga culture and tradition
*Mansa Festival*	Jharkhand	Various tribal groups	Worship of the goddess Manasa for protection against snake bites and harvest success

Sources:

IndianExpress

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q:Consider the following pairs: Tribal festival/State:

1.Wangla festival: Nagaland

2.Madai festival: Uttarakhand

3.Mansa festival: Jharkhand

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

a) 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

1^st pair is incorrect: The Wangala Festival is celebrated by the Garo tribe in Meghalaya. It is a post-harvest festival where the Garos offer thanks to the Sun God.

2^nd pair is incorrect: The Madai Festival is celebrated by the Gond tribe in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It is a cultural festival that involves worship and celebrations for prosperity.

3^nd pair is correct: The Mansa Festival is celebrated in Jharkhand and is dedicated to Goddess Manasa, who is worshipped for protection against snake bites and for agricultural prosperity.