Sohrai Painting, Jharkhand

Sohrai is a harvest festival celebrated in the Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar. It is also called the cattle festival. The festival is observed after the harvest and coincides with Govardhan Puja during Diwali. In Santal Parganas, it is celebrated in the month of January. It is observed by the Santal, Bhumij, Sadan, Oraon, Ho and Munda communities, among others.

It is celebrated on Amavasya of the Hindu month of Kartik, which falls in October–November. In Santal Parganas, it is celebrated in January, between the 10th and 15th. During this festival, people fast, paint their houses, and prepare food. At night, they light earthen lamps in the cattle sheds and offer sacrifices to Gaurea, the deity of animals.

Celebration

Sohrai is a harvest festival celebrated after the harvest. It is observed on Amavasya (new moon) in the Hindu month of Kartik (October–November). The festival is celebrated in honor of cattle, especially bullocks, buffaloes, goats, and sheep. On this day, people fast throughout the day, and earthen lamps are lit in homes, cattle sheds, kitchens, and gardens. On the festival day, the animals are bathed, and their horns and foreheads are anointed with vermilion diluted in oil. They are offered a special meal of rice and vegetables. In the evening, a black chicken is sacrificed to Gaurea (the spirit of the cowshed), along with ''Tapan'' (fermented rice drink). The meat of the sacrificed chicken is then eaten with bread and ''Tapan''. Sohrai is a day to express gratitude and affection for livestock.
The harvest festival is also a time for people to showcase their artistic skills and expressions. Every year, after the festival is over, the drawings and patterns created during this time are erased. This festival usually takes place in October or November and lasts for three days. It coincides with Diwali. However, the Santals living in Santal Parganas celebrate it in January.

Arts

An indigenous art form is practised by the women. Ritualistic art is done on mud walls to welcome the harvest and to celebrate the cattle. The women clean their houses and decorate their walls with murals of Sohrai arts. This art form has continued since 10,000–4,000 BC. It was prevalent mostly in caves, but shifted to houses with mud walls.

This Sohrai art form can be monochromatic or colorful. The people coat the wall with a layer of white mud, and while the layer is still wet, they draw with their fingertips on it. Their designs range from flowers and fruits to various other nature-inspired designs. The cow dung that was earlier used to cake the walls of the house is used to add colour. The dark outline is visible due to the previously applied contrasting white mud coat. Sohrai artists are spontaneous in their drawing. Little pre-planning is evident. The canvases range up to 12 x 18 feet. The designs are usually drawn from the artist's memory. The personal experience of the artist and their interaction with nature are the biggest influence.

References

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Festivals in India
Festivals in Jharkhand
Culture of Jharkhand
Nagpuri culture
Tribal festivals in India