Tribals dance to the beat of the madol at Sakchi. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, April 11: The beginning of the sowing season, marked by the Sarhul festival, was celebrated in the city today by members of the Oraon, Bhuyian, Munda, Mundari and Turi Samaj.

?This is one of the most important festivals of our community. We offer our prayers to the sal trees, which symbolise Mother Nature, for her blessings,? said Dulal Bhuiyan, BJP MLA from Jugsalai. The Sarhul festival also marks the new year for these tribal groups.

?In ancient times, the trees and flowers were the only way primitive men could understand the changing seasons, and since then the tribals have been worshipping nature,? Bhuiyan added.

?The Sarhul festival is quite similar to the Baha Parv, celebrated by the Santhalis and Hos. Both festivals worship nature, the difference being that we celebrate it only at the Sarna (a place of worship) and not anywhere else,? explained a tribal scholar Digambar Hansda, who is also the former principal of Lal Bahadur Shashtri Memorial College.

To observe the festival, the tribals, decked up in colourful clothes and carrying sal leaves, organised a procession in the evening from Oraon Samaj Bhavan at Sitaramdera.

They hit the streets of Sakchi and Golmuri before returning to the Bhavan at Sitaramdera. ?We danced to the tunes of the madol, nagara and the dhol and it is not mere fun for us. It is the way we show our love for nature,? said Ramesh Lakra, who took part in the procession.

A cultural programme, organised at the Oraon Samaj Bhavan by the Sarhul Central Committee, was inaugurated by chief guest and Jamshedpur MP Sunil Mahto,while the guest of honour was MLA Bhuiyan. Karthik Lakra, secretary of the Sarhul Central Committee, said a tribal song and dance competition is organised as part of the festival, primarily to promote tribal languages and dance forms.