Ajam Emba, Ranchi, Jharkhand credit: https://www.atlasobscura.com
The tribals of Jharkhand have a very diverse set of customs. One of their binding social aspects is religion. While many tribals are Hindus, Christians, and so on, a significant chunk of the population follows a tribal way of worship, also known as Sarna. Often the administration mistakes all tribals as Hindus, which is incorrect, as the tribals following Sarna have their own elaborate culture and customs. They worship the local deities according to the clan and the tribes. These deities are called ‘Thakurs’, ‘Singnorga’, ‘Gram Sri’ and so on. They worship the forest gods and other deities that are prevalent in their tribe. They don’t construct big or lavish places of worship but worship at natural sites inside the forests which they call ‘ The tribals celebrate Hindu festivals while those following Sarna celebrate festivals that coincide with Hindu festivals. Some of these festivals are Mage Parab, Phagu Parab, Karam Parab, Sarhul Parab, Aruba Parab, Sohrai Parab, and so on.
Sarhul Festival credit: https://triplou.com/blog
The tribals of East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand also have a hunting festival called the Sendra festival. During this season, they venture into the forests in small and large groups with traditional weapons such as bows and arrows. They hunt boars, deers, and small animals. Though the festival is a controversial one and is often condemned by the government, the tribals argue that this has been a part of their culture for ages and they will continue to hunt ceremonially during the Sendra.
The festivals of the tribals are energetic yet simple. They don’t pollute the ecology around the festival sites as they worship the very elements of nature that might get damaged by extensive exploitation. The tribal festivals are a good example of maintaining harmony and coexisting with all the elements of nature.
The cuisine of the tribals is also quite interesting. They don’t use modern kitchen appliances to cook, hence their cooking is also an art that explains their way of sustainable living. A simple task of boiling an egg can be done by the tribals, without the use of water. They coat raw eggs with cow-dung and put the ball in the fire. Once the flame is doused, then the layer of hardened dung is carefully removed. The eggs are washed and peeled to reveal a perfect hard-boiled egg. These are the tricks and methods the tribals have been following for ages but are alien to the modern 21st-century city dweller who relies heavily on electricity and running water. The tribals also make a sour tangy chutney using red ants available readily in the forest. This chutney is not only a quick fix for important proteins and nutrients but also adds a nice kick and flavor to the dish it is eaten with.
Marwa Chilka credit: indroyc.com
Ajam Emba- Ranchi credit: https://www.atlasobscura.com
Fortunately, the tribal way of cooking and tribal delicacies are no longer limited to the forests, as tribal entrepreneur Aruna Tirkey has opened up a unique restaurant in Ranchi. The restaurant called Ajam Emba serves authentic traditional tribal cuisine. It has been a success as people from all communities can now try and explore the tribals cuisine. Establishments like these are promoting tribal culture through food in the state and bring such experiences to the reach of the city-dwelling folks.
Ajam Emba interiors credit: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places
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