Key Festivals in September 2025
1. Karam Puja (Karma Puja)
- Date: Likely on September 3, 2025
- Significance: Karam Puja, also known as Karma Puja, is a prominent festival among the Oraon, Munda, and Ho tribal communities in Jharkhand. Celebrated to honor Karam Devta, the deity of youth, strength, and harvest, this festival celebrates nature, community prosperity, and the bond between human beings and their environment.
- Rituals: The core ritual of Karam Puja involves the worship of the Karam tree. Young women and men in the village cut a branch from the Karam tree, which is then installed in the center of the village as a symbol of Karam Devta’s presence. Offerings of rice, flowers, milk, and seasonal fruits are made to the branch, which is usually decorated with colorful cloth and leaves.
- Dance and Music: The Karam dance and accompanying folk songs are integral to the celebration. Villagers gather around the tree, dancing to the beat of traditional drums and singing songs that narrate the tales of Karam Devta and express gratitude for the harvest.
- Storytelling: Elders narrate legends associated with Karam Devta, teaching the younger generation about the values of communal life and harmony with nature. This storytelling is a cherished ritual, as it reinforces community bonds and educates children about their heritage.
- Breaking the Fast: After a day of fasting, participants break their fast with food offerings that have been blessed during the ritual. This communal meal fosters a sense of unity and shared joy.
2. Karma Dussehra
- Date: Mid-September 2025
- Significance: Karma Dussehra, also celebrated around the Karam tree, is another festival unique to the tribal communities in Jharkhand. It mirrors the essence of Karam Puja but is primarily celebrated by the Santhal tribe. This festival emphasizes the importance of unity, respect for nature, and gratitude for the earth’s resources.
- Rituals: The rituals are similar to Karam Puja, with some unique aspects:
- Procession and Karam Tree Worship: The festival begins with a lively procession to bring a branch of the Karam tree to the village center. Villagers then gather around it, adorned in traditional attire, to offer their respects.
- Karma Dance and Drum Beats: The celebration includes the vibrant Karma dance, where men and women join hands, circling the Karam tree to the rhythmic beats of drums. This dance symbolizes the unity of the community and their deep connection to nature.
- Communal Prayers and Offerings: Prayers are offered for prosperity, health, and harmony. The festival ends with the sharing of blessed food offerings, a ritual that reinforces communal bonds and gratitude.
3. Jitiya Vrat (Jivitputrika Vrat)
- Date: September 27, 2025
- Significance: Jitiya Vrat, or Jivitputrika, is a fasting ritual observed by mothers for the well-being and longevity of their children. This festival, although observed across many parts of northern India, holds special significance in Jharkhand, where families deeply value the blessings of Jivitputrika.
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- Rituals:
- Fasting by Mothers: Women begin the festival with a full day and night of fasting, abstaining even from water, to demonstrate their devotion and prayers for their children.
- Bathing Ritual at Sunrise: The vrat begins early in the morning, with mothers taking a holy bath at a river or pond. This is followed by prayers for their children’s health, protection, and happiness.
- Offering of Special Food (Thekua): During the vrat, a special sweet called thekua, made of wheat flour, ghee, and jaggery, is offered to the goddess. After the vrat, mothers share the thekua with family members, symbolizing the blessings of prosperity and longevity for their children.
- Reading of the Jivitputrika Vrat Katha: The vrat katha, or the story of Jivitputrika, is narrated to recount the legend associated with this festival. This story, which teaches the values of sacrifice, devotion, and maternal love, is an essential part of the ritual.
4. Durga Puja Preparations
- Date: Beginning in Late September 2025
- Significance: While Durga Puja is celebrated in October, the preparations often begin in September. In Jharkhand, especially among the Bengali and Hindu communities, Durga Puja is one of the most anticipated festivals. September marks the beginning of idol-making, decoration planning, and communal gatherings in anticipation of this grand event.
- Rituals:
- Idol Creation: Artisans begin crafting idols of Goddess Durga, an intricate process that can take weeks. These idols are created with great devotion and detail, with the faces of the goddess often being painted last as a ritual to breathe life into the sculpture.
- Pandal Preparation: The pandals, or temporary temples, are designed to house the goddess during the festival. Communities work together to create these beautiful structures, which are often decorated with lights and vibrant designs.
- Ananda Mela: In some areas, small fairs or gatherings take place where families celebrate the beginning of Durga Puja preparations with food stalls, music, and traditional games, reflecting the excitement for the upcoming festivities.
