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:
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 Answer: a Explanation: 1st 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. 2nd 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. 3nd 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. |