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Sarhul
Sarhul is celebrated during spring season and the Shaal trees get new leaves. It is a worship of the village deity who is considered to be the protector of the tribes. People sing and dance a lot when the sprouting. The deities are worshipped with shaal flowers. These shaal flowers represents the brotherhood and friendship among villagers and Pahan the priest, distributes shaal flowers to every villager. Then the Prasad is distributed among villagers. The Prasad id a rice made wine called Handia
It is in essence, a spring festival celebrated during February-March, when the Sal trees in the forests around (so dear to the tribals) sprout fresh new green foliage and burst into flowers which are locally known as Shalony or Shalai. These flowers are in fact mascots of the festival.
The respective village deities too are worshipped with these flowers. The flowers are also symbols of friendship and brotherhood, and hence distributed in each household by the tribal priests.
The Prasad (consecrated and sanctified food) on this occasion is Hadia or Diang, a highly popular local brew who basic ingredient is stale rice. Traditional group dance, music and feasting with gay abandon are the highlights of the festival.
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