Far away from the madding crowd of cities, where Durga Puja means huge pandals, serene villages in Dhanbad have given the festival a different dimension.

At Santhal villages Simaldih, Damodarpur, Tundi, Topchanchi, Rajganj and Baliapur, floors of mud huts are getting a fresh coat of cow dung and walls painted with traditional motifs to welcome the goddess who will slay Mahishasur during Dashain.

Dashain is a 10-day tribal festival like Durga Puja.

On Prathama or day one, the religious guru of Santhals, kamru or thakran, forms a team of men. They dance and visit the neighbouring villages in search of Mahishasur or the evil force.

The thakran, considered messenger of Jaher-Era or Goddess Durga, decks himself up with peacock feathers, beats drums and dances along with his group asking the people about Mahishasur.

According to tribal belief, after getting information, the Thakran visits the of goddess' place known as jaher sthan, invokes her and discloses Mahishasur's whereabouts. The goddess kills the demon on Dashami or the tenth day of Dashain festival.

District president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Ramesh Tudu said the jahersthan was generally a secluded place amid dense foliage.

"A rock is worshipped as the goddess. The thakran, who has spiritual knowledge, also lashes himself as a symbol of getting rid of the evil force," said Ramesh, also a resident of Simaldih village.

"People will wear new clothes," he added. "Those who can't afford new clothes, will at least wear clean ones."