In the heart of Jharkhand’s villages, when the paddy fields have been harvested and the chill of Kartik (October–November) sets in, the tribal communities prepare for one of their most vibrant festivals—Sohrai. For the Adivasis of this region, Sohrai is more than a harvest festival; it is a thanksgiving to nature, cattle, and ancestors, a ritual of renewal, and a celebration of life itself.

The name Sohrai comes from the word soro, meaning “to drive with a stick”—a reference to the ancient pastoral roots of the community. Over centuries, this festival has evolved into a week-long occasion of rituals, painting, music, dancing, and feasting, reflecting the deep interconnection between humans, animals, and the natural world.

Rituals Rooted in Nature

Sohrai begins with the Naike, the village priest, performing rituals in an open ground. Hens are sacrificed, their offerings placed before the deities—Bongas, the spirits of nature. This opening ritual, attended only by men, marks the symbolic invitation to the gods and ancestors to partake in the celebrations.

The Manjhi, the village headman, then formally declares the festival open, and soon after, the air fills with the beats of drums, laughter, and the aroma of festive meals. Rice cooked with the sacrificial offering is shared, binding the community in a sacred act of gratitude.

The following days blend rituals with daily life. Cattle, the lifeline of agrarian existence, are at the heart of Sohrai. On the second day, as cattle graze in the fields, women adorn their mud houses with striking Sohrai paintings—a tradition as old as the community itself. These motifs, painted with fingers, twigs, or bamboo brushes, use natural pigments sourced from earth: red ochre, black charcoal, yellow clay, and white rice paste. Animals, birds, flowers, and scenes of everyday life come alive on walls, turning the village into an open-air art gallery.

As dusk falls, diyas are lit in cattle sheds, welcoming the animals back. Their horns are smeared with oil and vermilion, garlands of paddy are tied across their heads, and special prasad is offered. The cattle, seen as symbols of fertility and prosperity, rest while their keepers sing and dance late into the night.

Another day is dedicated to worshipping cattle sheds. Paddy stalks are brought from the fields, attached to the horns of cattle, and the animals are led to open spaces where games and recreational rituals are performed. On the concluding day, men and women come together, and the Manjhi brings the festival to a formal close.

Among the most striking rituals is the Agni Pariksha—the fire test. Cattle leap over a bonfire, believed to purify them and protect against malevolent spirits. It is a spectacular sight, but beyond its drama lies a symbolic act of continuity: the bond between humans and animals, sanctified by fire.

Sohrai Painting: A Visual Delight

If Sohrai rituals are about gratitude, Sohrai art is about storytelling. Passed down from mothers to daughters, this matriarchal art form transforms village huts into canvases of living heritage.

The palette comes entirely from nature—kali matti (black soil), charak matti (blackish rock dust), lal matti (red ochre), pila matti (yellow clay), and dudhi matti (white clay). With brushes made of grass, cloth, or twigs, women paint bulls, peacocks, deer, lotus flowers, and scenes of pastoral life. These motifs are not mere decoration—they are symbols of good fortune, fertility, and protection for the family and harvest.

In 2020, Sohrai painting received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, officially recognising its unique identity and protecting the rights of tribal women artists. But long before that, Sohrai art had quietly carried echoes of prehistory.

Tracing Roots to Ancient Rock Art

The discovery of Isko rock art in Hazaribagh drew a fascinating connection: the motifs carved on rocks between 7000 and 4000 BCE bore striking similarity to Sohrai wall paintings. Bulls, riders, and geometric shapes that once adorned cave walls now appear on mud huts, suggesting an unbroken cultural continuum from the Palaeolithic age to today’s villages.

Nearby, caves and stone tools from the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic eras reveal that this region was once a cradle of human creativity. Archaeologists believe Sohrai art is among the oldest living traditions of wall painting in the world. What began as cave art on stone surfaces evolved, over millennia, into seasonal murals celebrating life and harvest.

Thus, each Sohrai painting is not just an act of festivity—it is a bridge between prehistoric imagination and contemporary tribal identity.

Music, Dance, & Merrymaking

No festival in Jharkhand is complete without music and dance, and Sohrai is no exception. Tribal communities gather in courtyards and village squares, their songs echoing into the night. Each day has its own set of songs, often improvised, carrying humour, longing, and joy.

The dances—jhumar, chhau, and paika—bring energy and drama, performed to the resonant beats of madal drums. These performances are not staged spectacles for outsiders but organic expressions of community spirit. Alongside, traditional crafts—dokhra metalwork, bamboo craft, wood carving, and pottery—find a space in the festival, enriching its tapestry of creativity.

And of course, no celebration is complete without food and drink. Handia, the traditional rice beer, flows in abundance, binding people in merriment and song.

Myth & Meaning

Behind the rituals lies a mythology that gives Sohrai its spiritual aura. According to Santhal beliefs, Marang Buru (the mountain god), Jaher Ayo (the forest goddess), and the elder sister of the Santhals descend from heaven to visit their brothers during this time.

The vibrant wall paintings are thus offerings of welcome to these celestial visitors—ensuring blessings of prosperity, protection, and harmony.

Sohrai in Contemporary Times

In recent years, the Jharkhand government has taken commendable steps to preserve and promote Sohrai. Ranchi’s boundary walls now showcase Sohrai paintings, bringing the tribal art into the urban gaze. This not only honours the artists but also gives the tradition a chance to thrive in modern contexts.

At the same time, NGOs and cultural organisations are working with tribal women to train, market, and exhibit their art worldwide. What was once confined to mud walls is today appearing on canvas, textiles, and even fashion accessories, giving these women both recognition and livelihood.

A Festival Beyond Celebration

Sohrai is not just a tribal festival—it is a living philosophy. It celebrates gratitude to nature, reverence for cattle, respect for ancestors, and a deep awareness of the interconnectedness of all life forms.

It is also a cultural archive, preserving echoes of prehistoric creativity and offering a glimpse into how human communities lived in rhythm with their environment. In its songs, dances, paintings, and rituals, Sohrai stands as a reminder of a worldview where nature, humans, and animals coexist in harmony.

Closing Thoughts

Walking through a Sohrai village during this festival is like stepping into a world where walls breathe art, cattle wear garlands, drums beat through the night, and stories are told through ritual and song. It is both ancient and timeless, rooted in tradition yet alive with joy.

For the tribal communities of Jharkhand, Sohrai is more than festivity—it is identity, heritage, and continuity. For the rest of us, it is an invitation to learn, admire, and honour a culture that has preserved its wisdom across generations.

In celebrating Sohrai, we celebrate the resilience of communities, the creativity of women artists, and the eternal bond between humans and the natural world.

Festivals like Sohrai remind us that heritage is not found only in monuments or museums—it lives in villages, in rituals, in painted walls, and in the rhythm of drums. Sohrai is a call to reconnect with the earth, with gratitude and humility.