Jamshedpur, Nov. 26: Jharkhand Raksha Sangh, a local tribal outfit, is working towards strengthening and reviving age-old hunting tradition of the tribes.

At a news meet, the members of the organisation today demanded that their tradition of hunting, sendra, be made legal.

The Jharkhand Raksha Sangh will organise a rally in the steel city and Seraikela-Kharsawan on December 19 in support of their demand.

Chote Hembrom, the president of Jharkhand Raksha Sangh, said that there are many misconceptions about tribal culture mostly construed by non-tribals living in Jharkhand.

He said non-tribals do not have a clear picture of the tribal culture and therefore misinterpret many rituals observed by them. He added that sendra is an integral part of tribal traditions but it is losing its importance due to the pressure and punitive measures being taken against the tribals indulging in the activity.

“Sendra means hunting but it has a religious connotation also,” he said.

“The tribals who participate in sendra have to fast before going for hunting. After the activity, the participants congregate at a place and perform rituals before returning to their homes with the hunted animals.”

Hembrom said as sendra is considered as a sacred thing for the tribals. He said the government and the forest department has taken many repressive measures to stop the tribals from celebrating their age-old festival and rued the fact that the state was created to help the tribals.

“The forest department and the government is making it hard for us to observe these rituals,” he said.

“We are fighting for our rights. If sendra is made legal, the Sarna religion will have a meaning,” said Hembrom.

The rally would start from Adityapur Football Maidan in the morning and culminate at East Singhbhum deputy commissioner’s office on December 19. He added that the rally is a successful one.