Purulia has been a drought-prone district of West Bengal, India, with a semi-arid landscape. It has a rich cultural heritage, with a fusion of Bengali tradition and a touch of the tribal essence in it. People here celebrate a variety of local festivals with lots of social values, splash of colors and distinctive local folk culture such as Jhumur, Bhadu, Tusu and Chhau.

Santhal is India’s third largest tribe and most of them live in the rural areas of Purulia. They worship nature, forests, spirits and animals. Dancing and Singing are important parts of the festivities. Besides Baha, Karam and Dansai, another big festival of Santhal people is SOHRAI. It is celebrated during October-November when the single annual paddy crops are harvested. A plenty of stories, rituals and events are linked to Sohrai which reflects Integration, Gratitude, Freedom, Equality and Joy altogether.

Here’s an attempt to take you through the vibrant mix of activities:

Read more from the author: पुरुलिया, पश्चिम बंगाल में सोहराय त्यौहार

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