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It happens: Spring Festival

Bhubaneswar, March 14 (ANI): The Santhal community in Bhubaneswar city of India's eastern Odisha province celebrated the onset of spring season by performing traditional rituals and colorful dances at the ongoing 'Baha Bonga' festival. The festivities are hosted at Jaher (shrine), at the foot of a Sal tree and go on for three to four days. Jaher is the centre of performing rituals and socio-cultural activities for the Santhal tribe. On the occasion, the tribal god, Maarang Buru, and goddess, Jaher Ayo, are worshipped with other deities at the Jaher. As a part of rituals, the deities are offered newly blossomed flowers and fruits of Sal and Mahua trees. The tribal community believes that the spirits of the god and goddess take away diseases, evils and sufferings of humans from the Earth. The spirits of the gods descend into the body of a tribesperson, who then grants their wishes. The festival starts with the local priest distributing Sal and Mahua flowers to both men and women, symbolizing that from that day onwards they are permitted to use forest products. Men tuck them behind their ears while women embellish their hair with them. Mar 15, 2014
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