সোহরাই সংস্কৃতি : এক অনন্য লোকসংস্কৃতির ধারা/ Sohri Culture : A Unique Tradition of Folk Culture

Abstract

Tribes have rich and distinctive cultural traditions including their vernacular language, music, dance, and paintings. So, tribal culture has a special importance in Indian cultural map. Sohrai culture is also a tribal culture, which has its root in the Eastern Indian agriculturalist communities. Dance, music and above all, art has evolved around the Sohrai festival, which is a traditional harvest festival of the rural communities in Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal. This festival strengthens the tie between nature, animals and humans. Over thirty tribal communities like Santhal, Oraon, Munda and Kurmi tribes of eastern India celebrate this festival during the winter harvest season. These tribal communities have kept their heritage and identities almost unchanged that is reflected in their different festivals like Sohrai. This article has tried to depict a sketchy picture of Sohrai festival with special reference to the Sohrai art. Tribal women prepare this Sohrai art from generation to generation since Paleolithic age. They create intricate and lively designs on the mud walls of their houses to exhibit their gratitude to their livestock and show respect for their forefather during the Sohrai festival days. They believe that their abundance and prosperity depends on their livestock and the blessings of their forefathers. Sohri art has two art forms - Sohrai and Khovar. Sohrai is created during the harvest season and Khovar is specially for decorating marriage ceremonies. Sohrai festival and paintings and other artistic endeavors created by the tribal people of eastern India developed into a unique style of cultural heritage with aesthetic expression and as a repository of cultural values, oral traditions and eco consciousness. With time this culture has changed its indigenous flavor. Traditional themes have been replaced by modern themes and natural colours are being substituted by synthetic ones and with times the Sohrai artists have also got chance to exhibit their talent in world market, which in general change their original taste. In this article the focus is on tribal festival Sohri and its cultural features with its significance and transformations in details.