Ranchi, 21 March. Preparations for Prakriti Parv Sarhul are in full swing. Regarding this, cleaning of Sarna Sthal and Akhara is being done in different areas of Jharkhand. Ranchi Ranchi city is covered with Sarna flags. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the people. On March 23, there will be a prediction after fasting, keeping water, traditional worship. This prediction will be for the new year of Sarna religious people. In this, there will be a wish for a better crop with good rain. On March 24, a procession will take out from more than 300 akhadas, which will reach Sirmtoli Sarna Sthal. People in traditional costumes, musical instruments and singing Sarhul will join the procession. At the same time, Sarhul festival will end on March 25 with Phulkhonsi.
Religious rituals of Sarhul will start from Chait Dwitiya i.e. 23rd March. There will be special worship at Sarna Sthal. During the day, young men and pahan together catch crabs and fish from ponds, fields and rivers. They are kept safe by tying them with Arwa thread. Jaglal Pahan of Hatma Sarna site told that when paddy is sown, its powder is mixed with cow dung and sown along with paddy. The belief behind this is that just as a crab has innumerable children, similarly there will be innumerable paddy earrings. On the same day in the evening, two pitchers filled with pahan and sanghara water from the river and pond will be placed at the Sarna site. Arva rice and Sakhua flowers will also be put in the pot of water. Five cocks and hens will be kept at the sacred Sarna site with vermilion, ghuvan, lamp and tied with Arwa thread.
Jaglal Pahan told about Sarhul that in ancient times, when our forefathers used to wander in the forest, then after wandering throughout the day, they used to find a place to rest in the evening. In this sequence, they used to hunt and eat the tuber-roots and animals found in the forest. In such a situation, they used to make shelter under Sal i.e. Sakhua tree which is found in abundance in the forest. Sal tree was considered big in size and safe. The trunk of the tree i.e. Dhar used to protect the people from different weather.
Also used to give protection from wild animals. Apart from this, the branch, fruit and flower of Sal tree were found useful in life. Used to prepare sarays made from the fruit and eat them in sakhua leaves. Thin branches were used for firewood and thick branches were used for preparing the ashram. Due to the Sal tree being useful in every situation, the ancestors started worshiping it. This is the reason that nature is worshiped along with the Sal tree on the day of Sarhul.
These days the markets of Ranchi Ranchi city are covered with Sarhul flags for this festival of nature. Sarhul flags of 30 inches to 30 feet are available in the market. The highest demand is for one meter Sarhul flag. Its price starts from Rs.30. At the same time, Sarhul flags ranging from five feet to 30 feet have been prepared for various big arenas of the city. Their price ranges from Rs.300 to Rs.2000.
