Ranchi
Tribals celebrate Karam festival with fervour across Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. In fact, wherever the tribals from Jharkhand region migrated in search of bread and butter, the ‘Karam Gosai’ accompanied them. Karam (scientific name Nauclea Parvifolia) is tree and Gosai is God
Like the festival of flowers Sarhul, this festival too signifies the age-old bonding of tribals with the Nature God and co-existence of all living and non-living beings in the universe.
Tribals, wherever they are based, be they in Assam or Andaman or beyond the borders in Nepal, Bangladesh, Canada, Mauritius or, United Kingdom, don’t fail to celebrate the festival.
Tribal litterateurs Dr Ram Dayal Munda and Ratan Singh Manki in their book “Aadi Dharam” have pointed that the Karam festival is celebrated across Assam in the East to Rajasthan in the West and Nepal in the North to Chhattisgarh in the South.
By the 11the day of Bhado, sowing of crops (mainly rice, maize, urad and the likes, in these areas) is over and the harvests are nearing readiness for reaping. People shun their personal differences, mutual rivalries and jealousies and express solidarity in greeting the Karam Gosai.
A branch of Karam tree is planted in the village Akhra, where everyone assembles to perform the rituals. Women sing devotional songs and perform Jhumar dance for the prosperity of their kith and kin.
As per popular notions, unmarried girls pray for getting good life partners, the married women perform rituals with devotion for the prosperity and well-being of their husband and children. The Sadan (original natives) women pray for the safety and long life of their brothers.
“Karam festival also signifies dominance of ‘Karma’ in tribal life. Tribals are solely dependent on their hard work, honesty and truthfulness for their sustenance. Collective or mass celebration of any event is an integral part of tribal society,” well-known author on tribal issues, Dr. Shanti Khalkho, tells The Indian Tribal.
“No festival of theirs is a personal affair. Karam festival is celebrated in village Akhras and preparations begin one month in advance. Jawa (barley) seedlings are grown in the houses. New crops grown in their fields like, rice, maize, barley etc are offered to the deity. The traditional prasad comprises Chura (flattened or mashed rice), gud (jaggery), chana (gram) and kheerea (cucumber),” she elaborated.
Non-vegetarian dishes are not cooked in the houses during this festival too. They religiously eat ‘chhilka roti’ (chapatis made of rice and pulses powders or flour). Non-vegetaran dishes are, however, relished on the following day.
However, with changing times, several new dishes have begun to be offered as prasad to the deity. Karam tree branches too are seen planted in the houses. Earlier, these were seen only in those houses that had recently suffered a major setback. DJs have replaced the traditional musical instruments and the youths often prefer dancing to the tune of popular Bollywood and Nagpuri numbers.
“Changes or transitions bring about transformations in cultures and civilisations too. But, the idealistic values and traditional customs and traditions remain unaffected,” Khalkho argued.
