Trees lend their names to many places in the tribal areas of Jharkhand. This is because almost all tribal communities attach great importance to nature whether as a form of religious worship or celebration of any festival.

As a result, many tribal villages and settlements take after the names of the trees that are important to the indigenous people of that area. Hesal and Madhukam are some villages whose names have their origins in names of trees.

But of all the plants, Mahua (botanical name Madhuka longifolia) is perhaps the closest to the hearts of the tribals in the state due to its utility value. In fact, most parts of the plant, which belong to the Sapotaceae family, are brought to some use or the other by the tribals.

Mahua grows to a big tree and forms a large canopy with its branches and leaves. Though mahua, in general, is synonymous with an alcoholic beverage popular in the state, the tribals uses the plant for other purposes as well.

Mahua bears flowers between February and April. During this time, the tree is mostly stripped bare after the fall season. In remote villages the areas surrounding mahua trees are put on fire to make the place ready for collection of flowers and to keep away wild animals, especially bears, who are fond of mahua.

The mahua flower is in such high demand that the villagers start collecting them as soon as they fall. Villagers use the flower to prepare alcohol, mostly for self-consumption, by the simple distillation process.

The preparation of alcohol from mahua flowers is not only illegal, but its consumption sometimes results in blindness and eventually death if taken in a concentrated form called chua. However, some tribal communities continue to prepare as it forms a major source of their income.

The mahua flower is used for curing many common ailments as well. The alcohol made from the flower can be used to cure bronchitis. If the flower is fried in ghee it helps cure piles. The flowers, which dry on the trees, can be used to treat malaria after it is made into a paste with water. The paste has to be rubbed over the patient’s body.

Mahua bear fruits between June and July. The fruit stone is called Dola in Mundari and Madgi in Oraon.

The bark of the mahua tree provides relief from itching and other skin disease when applied in the form of a paste. The root can lessen the deadly effect of stings by scorpions. The root can also be used to cure ulcers.

The oil from mahua seed is used to light lamps as it forms a cheap form of fuel for the poor tribals. It is also used to cure skin diseases and fungal infections caused by excessive exposure to water.

The tribals use the seed oil to cure a disease in new-born babies called Kala dabba. According to tribals, a new-born baby is sadi to be suffering from kala dabba when there remains a gap in the skull crown. The abnormality may even lead to death. A mixture of ficus recimasa, mahua seed oil, mustard oil, coconut oil and a little kerosene oil is applied on the scalp in such cases.

The oil cake is used as a manure by tribals.They also use the oil cakes to catch fish. The mahua oil cake, which contains a feeble poison called saponin, has no effect on humans and animals. But when sprinkled into streams and ponds, the fish floating near the water surface come in touch with the poison and die.

Even the mahua timber is widely used by the tribals to make small furniture, primarily for self use and sometimes for sale.

The tribals even use the tree for weather forecasting. If the tree bears too many fruit it indicates heavy rainfall throughout the year, said the tribals.

Abhijeet Mukherjee