Sohrai Puja And Aripan Of Hazaribagh

Abstract

Tribal people and their maximum involvement with nature and respect for their cattlehave been seen in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.I had spent a few days during this festival at tribal villages to prepare this research paper. Women of the villages create Aripanfor Sohrai puja on the non - concrete floor on an auspicious day just after Diwali (Kali or Lakshmi puja in Hindus)in respect of their Ancestors, Cattle, lord Pashupati and Lakshmi. Also, prepare mud wall and made new sohrai painting and decoration. They celebrate this festival with nature, animals, many rituals, and traditional beliefs. Women sing different songs on these days of the festival. They prepare material for Aripan by rice dust and use of rice dust as pure for worship, use as white color on the floor, and made food on the day of the festival. Also, prepare another food by mixing of multi-seed for their cattle and people also eat as a Prasad (divine food). There have some stories behind this cattle worship. The main source of income is agriculture and cattle are the only which bring wealth for them, that’s why traditionally villagers worship and respect the animal.