Adivasi Parv 2026

Jharkhand's 32 tribal communities keep a festival year tied to the forest and the field — from Sohrai in winter to Sarhul in spring and Karma in the rains.

• 3JanSat

  Mage Parab (Ho) मागे परब

  The biggest festival of the Ho people of Kolhan: Desauli, the village guardian, is thanked with handia and rice, and nights of dance follow in West Singhbhum.

  Festival
• 12JanMon

  Sohrai (Santhal) सोहराय

  The Santhal harvest festival of cattle and kinship: houses are freshly plastered, cattle are bathed and anointed, and the village dances to the tamak and tumdak.

  Holiday
• 13JanTue

  Sohrai – Khuntaw सोहराय · खुंटाव

  Day of the tethered bull: cattle are tied to wooden posts (khunta) and teased with dry hides while drummers play — a test of strength and a thanksgiving.

  Holiday
• 14JanWed

  Makar Sankranti · Tusu Parab मकर संक्रांति · टुसू परब

  Tusu, the maiden goddess of the Kurmi and Panchpargana belt, is carried in tall paper chaudal to the river after a month of songs; dahi-chura and pitha everywhere.

  Holiday
• 22FebSun

  Baha Parab (Santhal) बाहा परब

  Santhal flower festival as sal and mahua bloom: the naeke (priest) worships at the jaher than, and people sprinkle water on each other instead of colour.

  Festival
• 21MarSat

  Sarhul सरहुल

  Jharkhand's spring new year. The pahan worships the sal grove (sarna), reads the coming rains in pots of water, and Ranchi fills with processions in red-and-white.

  Holiday
• 22MarSun

  Sarhul – Phulkhonsi सरहुल · फूलखोंसी

  The day after Sarhul: the pahan visits every home and tucks sal flowers into the roof, wishing the family a good year.

  Festival
• 14AprTue

  Manda Parab · Mesh Sankranti मंडा परब

  Shiva festival of the Kurmi and Bhokta communities: devotees walk on embers and swing from poles as a vow at Mesh Sankranti.

  Festival
• 30JunTue

  Hul Diwas हूल दिवस

  On 30 June 1855 Sidho and Kanhu Murmu gathered thousands of Santhals at Bhognadih (Sahibganj) and declared the Hul against the British and moneylenders.

  Holiday
• 9AugSun

  World Indigenous Peoples' Day विश्व आदिवासी दिवस

  Cultural programmes in every district; Jharkhand has 32 notified Scheduled Tribes.

  Festival
• 22SepTue

  Karma Puja करमा पूजा

  Sisters fast and plant karam branches in the akhra; the night is spent singing and dancing around them, and jawa (sprouted grain) baskets are blessed for brothers and the crop.

  Holiday
• 23SepWed

  Karma – Phoolkharkosi करमा · फूलखरकोसी

  Morning after Karma: the karam branch is immersed in the river and the jawa sprouts are shared and tucked in hair.

  Holiday
• 4OctSun

  Jitiya (Jivitputrika) जितिया · जीवित्पुत्रिका

  Mothers keep a nirjala fast for their children; in villages women dance the jitia jhumar around a pakad branch.

  Festival
• 9NovMon

  Bandna Parab · Sohrai (Kartik) बांधना परब · सोहराय

  Cattle festival of the Kurmi, Mahato and Oraon villages after Diwali; Hazaribagh's women paint Sohrai murals on mud walls.

  Festival
• 15NovSun

  Birsa Munda Jayanti · Jharkhand Sthapna Diwas बिरसा मुंडा जयंती · झारखंड स्थापना दिवस

  Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda was born at Ulihatu on 15 November 1875; Jharkhand became a state on his birthday in 2000. Celebrated nationally as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.

  Holiday

Jal, jangal, zameen

Almost every Adivasi festival marks a moment in the farming and forest year: Sarhul before new fruit and leaves are used, Karma when the paddy is growing, Sohrai when the harvest is in. Worship happens in the open — at the sarna or jaher grove and the akhra — and is led by the village priest (pahan, naeke or deuri) rather than a temple.

Many villages decide their own festival day; dates here follow the state list or the usual tithi.