CULTURE OF JHARKHAND

Submitted to:Dr. Manoj Sharma

Submitted by:Surbhi Chhabra, 11638,2nd year , 4th semester,Department of Architecture

MAP

JHARKHAND AT A GLANCE

Jharkhand  is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000.Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Ordisa to the south, and West Bengal  to the east

. It has an area of 30,778 sq mi (79,710 km2). The industrial city of Ranchi is its capital and Dumka is sub capital while Jamshedpur is the largest and the biggest industrial city of the state. Some of the other major cities and industrial centres are Dhanbad, Bokaro and Hazariabah.

The name "Jharkhand" means "The Land of Forests".

CULTURE

Being a tribe dominated state, nature has been given utmost importance in every sphere of life and culture. Branches of sacred trees are brought and ceremonially planted in the courtyards. Devotees then worship these tree parts associated with gods/goddesses. Karma puja, Jitia Puja, Sarhul are a few examples. Poush Mela or Tusu Fair is a significant occasion celebrated

during the Makar Sankranti wherein brightly coloured excellently decorated symbolic artefacts of folk deity are carried by the People. This is a folk harvesting festival. Tusu is a folk belief, not about any God or Goddess, but about a sweet little girl of the tribal folk. The festival takes place as new crops are harvested. The entire festival is a very colourful one. It takes the shape of the all-around festive mood of the tribal people, where everyone takes part.

CUISINE

Traditional Jharkhand cuisine is equally vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian. These traditional dishes are not available at the restaurants as they have not been commercialised. However on a visit to a tribal village or a tribal wedding in a remote area one can get a chance to taste such exotic food.

All preparation except the pickles and festive ones are low on oil and spices.

This fact can very well be demonstrated by the nature of Jharkhand food habits that have been imbibed by the native folks. Litti and Chokha also form an important portion of Jharkhand food.

Dal, bhat and tarkari are an integral part of a regular Jharkhand meal. As a matter of fact, this trio constitutes the staple food of this region. In general, the food cooked in Jharkhand is considered to be very light on the stomach and easy to digest.

The mouth-watering non-vegetarian Jharkhand food preparations like spicy chicken are also popular with a considerable section of Jharkhand. The cuisine mainly associated with this state also bears a faint touch of the robust Mughals which is vividly visible in the food of Jharkhand

The most known and common recipes in Jharkhand that are practically prepared in every household includes Phulka or Roti, Bhat or Rice, Tarkari or Sabzi and last but definitely not the least, Achar or Pickle.

The recipes of Jharkhand are truly exquisite and they are poised with a distinct style of cooking which makes them that extra special. They chiefly utilize sumptuous proportions of mustard oil as the medium using which they cook their food.

The most revered and cherished recipes in Jharkhand are mentioned below:- 

Chhonkna which is a modification of Tadka

.Sattu which is essentially a powered form of gram.

Panchforan which is a blend of five exotic and aromatic seeds, namely ajwain, sarson, saunf, methi and mangraila. 

Bihari LitthiPitthaSuran chuttneyKhicdiThekuaSattuMitha KhajaBesan ki SabziKala Chana Aloo ChokaSubzi JhingnChana dal kachoriPua and singalTil Burfi

FOLK DANCES

Jharkhand dance forms are a medium of expressing one's feelings, some story or any other event. Most of these folk dances in Jharkhand are performed by the local tribes. These dances not only reflect their mood or dancing talent but also bring into light their culture, traditions and beliefs. 

This dance was performed by the Santhal tribes during all special festivals and occasions. This dance not only reveals the culture or traditions of the local tribes but also showcases the strength of unity. The main attraction of the Santhal dance in Jharkhand is the colorful costumes worn by the tribal people.

Santhal Dance

This dance is performed by the males along with the traditional weapons like the shield and the sword. The musical instruments that are used to accompany this form of dance are Nagara, dholak and Shehnai.

Paika Dance

The Chhou dance is performed in an open space or a ground field, generally at the night time. The dancing area is surrounded by the fire poles called the mashaals, for the sake of lighting in the dark. But in some of the advanced parts of the state, electrical lamps and light have started replacing the fire poles.

Chhou Dance

 It is worshipping of the village deity, which protects and supports the tribes. There is dancing and singing in the whole region accompanied with drinks, snacks and a variety of foods.

Sarhul Dance

Jhumar is performed anytime, especially during the weddings, melas or some other important functions and celebrations. This dance is generally performed in a circle. The dancers wear very colorful costumes.

Jhumar Dance

This is a dance that is performed by the males during the time of Hindu festival of Holi.

during the performance the dancers throw colored water and powder on each other. Women also join this Phagua dance in some of the parts of Jharkhand. 

Phagua Dance

Bheja, one of the popular dance forms of Jharkhand, is performed by a group of boys and girls at a particular place.

during performance, they form a chain by clumping hands of one another in alternate successions..

Bheja Dance

Melodious traditional songs and music are the major accompaniments of this dance

Traditional dresses

MEN : Men maintain

their decency with only one piece of cloth called bhagwan.

The major tribes of santhal paragana, for instance the paharis and santhals follow a dress code unique in appreance.

The non tribal people envelopes themselves in traditional costume of jharkhand and almost of whoe India , dhoti kurta- pajamas and shirts

While featurin in ceromionies men adron themselves in good quality and attarctive kurta pajama and sherwani.

Women: Women adron themselves in saree , generaly tusar silk. The traditional dress of tribal women is panchi parthan .

Women of well of families prefer silk sarees .

JEWELRY

. Even in twenty first century tribals use wild grass to make ornaments such as necklaces..

Tribals wear a variety of jewellery made from natural resources and also from bell-metal and brass, especially anklets and bracelets. Subtle ear rings worked in filigree with various motifs are made and worn by the Santhal women

Mainly the tribal jewellery has motifs of berries, leaves and flowers Women also wear a kardhani, for the waist and chudha (bangles) for the wrists. Tikuli is attractive work on superior glass finished with wafer-thin tabaque (gold or silver leaves) and worn by women on their foreheads.

LANGUAGES

Although Hindi is the state language, the people of Jharkhand speak a number of languages belonging to three major language families: the Munda languages which include

 Santhali,Mundari, Ho, Kharia, Bhumij; the Indo-Aryan languages which includes Bengali, Oriya, Maithili. Nagpuri, 

Sadri, Khortha, Kurmali andPanchpargania; and the Dravidian languages which include Oraon (Kurukh), Korwa, and Paharia (Malto).

Santali is spoken predominantly in Dumka, Jamtara, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj and in parts of East Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan distrcits. Mundari is spoken mainly in Khunti and parts of Ranchi, West Singhbhum, Gumla, Simdega and Latehar districts. Ho is mainly spoken in West Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharswan districts. These three languages can be considered as sister languages as all of them are grammatically similar and 80%–90% of the words used are same.

Festivals

Jharkhand celebrates its rich culture and rituals with a number of fairs and festivals. Jharkhand celebrates most of the Indian festivals like Holi, Diwali, Dushera and Ramnavami with interest and passion. Muslim festivals like Muhrram and Bakri-Id are also celebrated. Along with these festivals, Sangat, Karma, Manda, Sarhaul and Jani Shikar are some of the some special festivals of Jharkhand.

Sangat is an important festival of Gudri Baza Mohalla of Chatra where an old manuscript of holy Gurugranth Saheb is placed. It is the main festival of Udasi Panth of Sikh community. The literal meaning of Sangat is company. It holds a deep religious significance. A group of men, women and children come together for a religious gathering, in the company of Guru Granth Sahib.

Sangat

The Sohrah is a popular and most awaited festival of Jharkhand. It is celebrated in the November month, during the Diwali festivities. It has a strong association with the cattle. During this festival, the cattle are washed and worshiped. Great amusements and bullfights are the attractions of this festival. This is among the most eagerly awaited and passionate festivals of Jharkhand.

Sohrah

is the main festival of the tribal communities of Jharkhand. Worship of sal tree is the verbal meaning of Sarhul. Sal tree is believed to be the house of Goddess Sarna. The main intention of this festival is to protect the village from all types of natural disasters. Along with this, Goddess Sita, the wife of Lord Rama,is also worshipped in some areas. Another famous festival of the state is the Basant Panchami. This festival is celebrated with the same passion and dedication in Jharkhand as in the rest of the country. It is famed as the welcome festival for the spring season.

Sarhaul

Tribes

There are as many as 30 different tribes in Jharkhand, an eastern state of in India. The names of these tribes at Jharkhand are: 

1.Baiga2.Asur3.Banjara4. Bedia5. Bathaudi6. Binjhia7.Bhumij Birjia8 .BirhorChick Baraik9. Chero10. GoraitGond

Music

Dohari DomkachJanani JhumarHumtaPratkaliDaidharaMardanaJananiDohari Domkach 

RELIGION

Most members of the scheduled tribes of Jharkhand follow the animistic Sarna religion. Sarna is the Mundari word for ‘Sacred Grove’. Sarna involves belief in a great spirit called the Sing Bonga. Tribal belief holds the world to be inhabited by numerous spiritual beings of different kinds. Tribal communities consider themselves as living and doing everything in close association with these spirits. Rituals are performed under the groves of Sal tress called Sarna (also called Jaher), where Bonga is believed to appear or express himself.

Many Hindus believe that this is not a separate religion but a part of the great Hindu tree where in most of the villages the trees are worshiped. Further Karma is always on Karma Ekadashi (Bhadrapad Shukla Ekadashi) and Sarhul on Chitra Shukla Tritiya exactly as per Hindu calendars.

Officially Reported Religion in Jharkhand Religion Percent

Hinduism   68.50%

Islam   13.8%

Sarna   13.04%

Christianity  4.05%

Sikhism   0.31%

Jainism   0.06%

Buddhism   0.02%

THANK YOU