Sohrai Festival

Sohrai is a traditional harvest festival celebrated in Jharkhand, also known as the cattle festival. It is observed after the harvest season and coincides with the festival of Diwali. The festival is widely celebrated by various communities including Sadan, Oraon, Munda, and Santal. Sohrai is commemorated on the day of Amavasya (new moon) in the Hindu month of Karthik, which falls between October and November. This festival is a time to show gratitude and affection towards livestock, particularly bullocks, buffalos, goats, and sheep. It is a period when people showcase their artistic talents and creativity. The intricate drawings and patterns made during this festival are usually temporary and get erased once the celebrations are over. Sohrai typically lasts for three days and is a significant event for the Santhal tribe, marking the successful rice harvest of the year. In Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand, women practice an indigenous art form by creating ritualistic art on mud walls to welcome the harvest season and honor the cattle. They adorn their homes with murals of Sohrai arts, a tradition that dates back to ancient times, around 10,000-4,000 BC, initially found in caves but later transitioned to mud-walled houses.