Sarhul Festival

The tribal communities in Jharkhand and the larger Chhotanagpur region celebrate the New Year and the arrival of spring with the Sarhul festival.

The festival reflects deep-rooted traditions of nature worship, sacred groves and community-based tribal cultural practices across eastern and central India.

Aspect	Details
Tribal Significance	Sarhul is a significant celebration for tribal communities in Jharkhand and surrounding areas, marking the onset of spring and the beginning of the New Year.
Nature Worship	The festival is centred on the worship of the Sal tree, which symbolises the vital connection between the Sun and the Earth.
Sacred Spaces	The main festivities take place in Sarna Sthals, the sacred groves found in Adivasi villages.
Regional Spread	These sacred spaces serve as centres of worship and are scattered across Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar.
Tribes Associated	Tribes that celebrate Sarhul include Oraon, Munda, Santal, Khadia and Ho.

Sacred Groves & Their Different Names

Sacred groves are forest patches protected by local communities due to their religious and cultural importance.

Jharkhand and Bihar: Sarna groves
Himachal Pradesh: Dev Van
Maharashtra: Devrai or Deorai
Karnataka: Devarakadu
Rajasthan: Oran
Meghalaya: Law Kyntang

PT Facts

Festival: Sarhul.
Main Region: Jharkhand and Chhotanagpur region.
Nature Link: Worship of the Sal tree.
Sacred Place: Sarna Sthal.
Associated Tribes: Oraon, Munda, Santal, Khadia and Ho.

Source:

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