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About Sarhul

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About Sarhul

Sarhul is the spring festival of the Adivasi communities of Jharkhand and nearby states, such as the Oraon, Munda and Ho. It marks the new year when the sal trees burst into bloom, usually in March or April.

The festival honours nature, the sal tree and the village deities at the sacred grove, the sarna. The village priest, the pahan, offers prayers for rain and a good harvest and reads signs for the coming season. Only after Sarhul do many families begin eating the new fruits of the season.

People wear sal flowers, dance in circles to the mandar and nagara drums and join large processions, especially in Ranchi. Sal flowers are carried from the grove to every home as a blessing.

  • Chaitra Shukla Tritiya
  • March or April
  • Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, Chhattisgarh

Where it began

Sarhul means worship of the sal tree. Sal blossoms appear in spring, and the festival marks the start of the new year for many communities, including the Oraon, Munda and Ho. Santal communities keep a similar flower festival called Baha.

The village priest, the Pahan, leads prayers at the Sarna, the sacred grove, offering sal flowers. A custom tells that he places pots of water there, and the level of water the next morning is read as a sign of the year's rain.

The festival reflects a deep belief that people, the forest and the earth belong together.

Sarhul dancers move together to the drumsRanchi, Jharkhand

How it grew over time

  1. Ancient times

    Forest dwelling communities greet the spring bloom of the sal tree with worship.

  2. Through the centuries

    Each community keeps Sarhul with its own songs, dances and offerings at the Sarna.

  3. Modern times

    Large Sarhul processions grow in Ranchi and other towns.

  4. Today

    Sarhul is a state holiday in Jharkhand.

How it is celebrated in different places

  • Ranchi

    Huge processions with drums, dance and sal flowers pass through the city.

  • Villages of Jharkhand

    The Pahan leads prayers at the Sarna and villagers share food and dance.

  • Odisha, Bengal and Chhattisgarh

    Adivasi communities keep Sarhul and Baha with flowers and song.

Sarhul moments

A Sarhul dance on a campus groundRanchi, Jharkhand
Hands joined in the Sarhul danceRanchi, Jharkhand
Sal flowers and song for the new yearRanchi, Jharkhand

Sarhul today

People wear white and red, tuck sal flowers in their hair, and dance to the beat of the mandar and nagara drums. Families share rice beer and festive food, and the day is a joyful welcome to spring.

How people celebrate Sarhul

  • Prayers at the sarna, the sacred grove
  • Sal flowers worn and shared
  • Dances to the mandar and nagara
  • Processions in Ranchi and other towns
  • First fruits of the season after the puja

How to wish well

  • "Johar" is the respectful greeting used across Jharkhand's Adivasi communities.
  • Wishes about nature, forests, rain and the new season suit the day best.
  • Respect the festival as a living faith: no jokes about rituals or customs.

Questions about Sarhul

When is Sarhul 2027?

Sarhul in 2027 falls on 9 April, the third day of the bright half of Chaitra.

Why is Sarhul celebrated?

It welcomes the new year and spring, and honours nature and the sal tree with prayers for rain and a good harvest.

What does Johar mean?

Johar is a greeting of respect and welcome used by Adivasi communities in Jharkhand and nearby states.

Which tree is worshipped on Sarhul?

The sal tree. Its fresh flowers are offered at the sacred grove and shared with every home.

Is Sarhul a holiday in Jharkhand?

Yes, Sarhul is a state holiday in Jharkhand.

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