Sarnaism

Sarnaism is the nature religion of the tribal peoples of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in eastern India, among them the Santal, Oraon, Ho and Munda. Its name comes from the Mundari word for a sacred grove, where the faith is practised. Its core principles are reverence for water, forest and land.

Each village has its sacred grove of sal trees, the home of the village deity, Gram Deota, where the whole community gathers for sacrifices twice a year, led by the village priest, the pahan. The groves are strictly protected: felling trees or harming animals is forbidden by custom.

The main festival is Sarhul, when ancestors are worshipped. The pahan brings three pots of water to the grove; if the level drops, the monsoon will fail, and if it holds, the rains will come.