Under the 26th series of its online exhibition by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, on Thursday Sarna–Sacred Groves of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh at IGRMS have been presented online with its basic information and photographs and videos.
About this exhibition, Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that, Sarna is the term used to refer a sacred grove in the Chotanagpur plateau (Jharkhand) and Chhattisgarh. Sarna is a religious centre of the community within the village eco-system where the village deity resides. The Munda, Oraon, Korwa and Raotia etc. are communities having belief in the Sarna religion. Mahadani Sarna is a type of Sarna found in many villages. Its deity is Mahadani (a male god), who is trusted to be protecting the village and its property from various natural calamities and diseases. The village would regularly conduct rituals in the Sarna.
About this Sarna–Sacred Groves at IGRMS Mr. Dheer Singh, Assistant Horticulture Officer told that the prominent trees found in Sarnas are shorea robusta (Sal), Ficus religiosa (Peepal), Terminalia bellirica (Behara), Ficus benghalensis (Bargad) etc.
The most prominent ritual associated with the Sarna is Sarhul. It is celebrated in march-april, at the time of flowering of Sal tree to make the beginning of new year. Other festivals like Kadleta (worship of oxen), Hariyali (crop growth festival), and Nawakhani (crop harvest festival) are also associated with Sarna. The religious representative of the village, known as Pahan / Baiga, takes care of the vegetation of the Sarna and carries out the rituals at Sarna. The Sarna has been inducted from Chhattisgarh.
