Students of the Adivasi Hostel in Ranchi perform Saraswati puja. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Jan. 23: Tuesday morning saw John Lakra of Gumla arranging prasad at the Adivasi Hostel of Ranchi University here. As a priest prepared for the puja to begin, one of Lakra’s friends waited gravely for the hawan and the opportunity to propitiate the fire god.

Kishore Khakha appeared surprised when this correspondent wondered why the followers of the Sarna are worshipping the Hindu goddess of learning. He curtly replied: “We perform the puja because all of us are students. She is, after all, the goddess of learning — so why should we bother about Sarna or Hinduism.” Varun Oraon of Lohardaga recalled that as students they have always looked forward to the puja “which has nothing to do with religion or politics”.

Premises of the Adivasi Chhatrawas — a cluster of several hostels meant for tribal students — reverberated with bhajan, and not a chart buster from a Hindi film, this morning as students earnestly went about making preparations. They had their bath early, made arrangements for the rituals before the priest arrived and waited patiently for the rituals to get over before having their breakfast. More than 500 students, they informed, reside in the three hostels named Swarnarekha, Kartik Oraon and, for some odd reason, Yaduvansh.

Ram Dayal Munda, former vice-chancellor of Ranchi University, was away in New Delhi. But sought his reaction, he replied that he was not surprised. “This is a perfect example of mutual respect and existence,” he said. “What better example can there be of harmony to find that Sarna followers are celebrating a puja , normally associated with Hindus. During our days at Adivasi Hostel, I remember that even Christian ST students were in the puja committee.”

Adivasi Hostel has been celebrating Saraswati puja from the very beginning. RU sanctions Rs 15,000 for the festivities while students also collect donation from businessmen, traders and friends as well. “Tomorrow we look forward to curd and khichri,” said a beaming boy.