Karma Puja

Karma Puja is a significant festival for India's tribal communities, primarily celebrated in regions such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam. It is a time of worship, gratitude, and hope, deeply rooted in agriculture and nature.

About Karma Puja:

Also known as Karam or Karam Parab, this festival celebrates the Karam tree, which symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and auspiciousness in tribal culture. The tree is seen as a powerful force of nature, believed to protect crops and ensure the well-being of communities.
Tribal Communities: The festival is particularly popular among tribes like the Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal, who have deep cultural ties to the land and its cycles.
Timing: Karma Puja is celebrated on Ekadashi tithi, which falls around August-September in the Gregorian calendar. It usually coincides with the harvest season, making it an occasion to thank nature and the divine for bountiful crops.

How is Karma Puja Celebrated?

Pre-Festival Preparations:
- A week before the festival, young women collect clear sand from the riverbanks and sow seven types of grains. This act is a symbol of fertility and the nurturing of crops.
Karam Tree Worship:
- On the day of the festival, a branch of the Karam tree is planted in the courtyard or akhra (community gathering space).
- Devotees bring hibiscus flowers (jawa) to the site as offerings.
- The pahan (priest) performs the worship of the Karam Raja (God of Karam), seeking blessings for a successful harvest and protection from misfortune.
Traditional Music and Dance:
- The festival is marked by singing traditional Karam songs and dancing, both of which are forms of prayer and celebration. The dances are vibrant and often performed in circles, representing unity and community.
Immersion and Conclusion:
- The festival concludes with the immersion of the Karam branch in a river or pond, symbolizing the release of all troubles and the return of blessings to nature.
- The jawa flowers are then distributed among the devotees, believed to carry blessings and prosperity.
Post-Festival Practices:
- As a final step, branches from sal or bhelua trees are planted in the fields with the hope that the Karam Raja will protect the crops and ensure a good yield.

Source: PIB

Join Our Telegram

Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)

Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)

12 Nov, 25
SHARE

India’s Union Cabinet has recently approved Phase-III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), a key initiative aimed at advancing biomedical research and innovation in India. This move aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, focusing on strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem and contributing to the Atmanirbhar

Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage

12 Nov, 25
SHARE

The report from Climate Analytics highlights growing concerns about Asia's reliance on Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, particularly in countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. What is Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS)? CCUS refers to a suite of technologies designed to capture carbon di

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

10 Nov, 25
SHARE

The ongoing Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meetings in Paris are focused on deliberating the issue of state sponsorship of terrorism, particularly regarding how certain states may be involved in financing banned terrorist outfits and their proxies. The discussions are expected to highlight the financing of terrorism and the role of Pakistan

India-Qatar

08 Nov, 25
SHARE

The India-Qatar Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Cooperation (JCEC) meeting marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Qatar, focusing on boosting trade, investment, and collaboration across several sectors. Key Outcomes of the India-Qatar Joint Commission Meeting: Ambitious Trade Target:

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

08 Nov, 25
SHARE

India and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently celebrated 80 years of partnership on World Food Day 2025. About the FAO The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in October 1945. It is the oldest permanent specialized agency of the UN and pl