Ranchi, Jan. 19: It has been a three-year-long wait for the state.

On January 26 2007, Jharkhand will get a second chance to display a tableau at the Republic Day parade.

This year the theme, after much deliberation, is Sarhul — the colourful and traditional tribal festival.

Sarhul is not just any celebration or gathering, but it carries in it, a deeper environmental message — Sarhul celebrates Mother Nature essentially. This year in the Republic Day parade altogether 14 states would be participating, along with Jharkhand.

Likewise, 10 schoolchildren from the state have also been selected to be at the parade. The lucky 10 would also get a chance to meet the President and Prime Minister of India.

The tableau would be divided into three portions encompassing themes that suggest Jharkhand to the layperson. In the front-portion a tribal playing a traditional instrument — nagara — under a Palash tree, in full-bloom, would be detected.

Again the Palash which blooms in the month of March is intrinsically related to Sarhul, which is also celebrated in the spring (March- April).

The middle part would depict a tribal coming down from a hill carrying the puja paraphernalia like goats, hens and flowers, surrounded by dancing members of his community, all playing typical instruments — nagara, mandar and jhal.

While the end, would depict lush forests with Palash and Sakhua trees, again typical of the red-soiled state.

Assistant director of information and public relation department A.K. Pandey, said 45 artistes from Khunti subdivision would be performing the Sarhul dance on the tableau.

“The artistes are already in Delhi. They left on January 10 and have been constantly practising there. They have also been provided special lodging there by the Centre,” Pandey added. Pandey also expressed his happiness and satisfaction of the state’s selection for the parade.

The selection process started in September where 16 eminent personalities, with their background in many art forms formed the selection panel.

But the final word belonged to the joint secretary defence.