Sohrai, the chief festival of the Santhal tribe, is celebrated after Diwali in honour of:

Sohrai is the most important festival of the Santhal tribe and is also celebrated by other tribal and farming communities of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. It is held after Diwali, on and after the new moon day (Amavasya) of the month of Kartika, and it honours cattle, which are essential for farming.

Sohrai is a harvest festival and a thanksgiving to cattle for their help in ploughing the fields and growing crops. During the festival, cattle are bathed, their horns are oiled and painted, and they are decorated with garlands and colours. They are given special food and are worshipped. In some places, cattle are tied to posts, and people play drums and excite them with the skin of animals, in a game that tests their strength. The festival also includes the worship of the ancestors and the village deities, feasting, rice beer, music and dancing. Sisters and daughters who have married into other villages are invited home, and the festival strengthens family and community bonds. The celebrations may last for five days.

During Sohrai, women decorate the mud walls of their houses with beautiful paintings, called Sohrai paintings. These are made using natural colours, such as red, black, yellow and white earth, and they show animals, birds, plants and patterns from nature. The paintings are made with the fingers, combs or twigs. Sohrai and Khovar painting of the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2020.

The Santhals are one of the largest tribal communities of India. They speak Santali, which is written in the Ol Chiki script and is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Sun is worshipped during Chhath Puja and Makar Sankranti.
• ✗The Sal tree is worshipped during Sarhul.
• ✗The ancestors are honoured during festivals such as Pitru Paksha, although they are also remembered at Sohrai.