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Sarna is a place of worship fortribal people in theChotanagpur region ofJharkhand,Chhattisgarh,West Bengal,Bihar andOdisha.[1][2][3] It is asacred grove, where village-dwellers gather to perform rituals in their local festivals.[4] Here, people worship the deities:Jaher Budhi,Sing Bonga,Buru Bonga, among others.
Sarna is a sacred grove ofSal trees, also calledSarai in Chotanagpur. It is a remnant forest in the village, where spirits are thought to reside.[5] According to traditional belief, Sarna is the residing place ofgaon khut (village deity), the village founder. Each year people gather to offer sacrifices to the Sun, the deity, and their ancestors to ensure a good harvest and safety. The village priest in Chotanagpur is known asPahan, sometimes calledLaya. Pahan and his assistantPujar sacrifice animals, especially goats. Cooked meat is eaten withtapan (liquor).[4] The ritual ofSarhul festival takes place in Sarna.[6][7]
Several indigenous peoples, including Santals, follow a separate religious code for Sarna asSarnaism as they believe it differs fromHinduism.[8][9]Santals call their sacred grovesJaher and village priestNaike.[10][11]
