Festivals of Artisan tribes

The Artisan tribes celebrate festivals the tribal festivals like Sarhul, Karma, Jitiya. Sohrai Nawakhani and Fagu festivals. The festival of Sarhul is celebrated in the month of Baisakh or March-April. The sal tree is worshipped on this occasion. The family head observe a fast. After bath they assemble near the sal tree. The ground and root of the sal tree is cleaned. With the help of colour, flower, leaves, sands they make artistic designs on the ground. Jaggery and gram are brought to offer the sal tree spirits. The women and children also participate in the worship. Dances are performed that are accompanied by instruments like mander and dhol. After worship the gur and chana are shared by all members of the community as prasad of Sarhul festival. Then they also share rice beer and perform dance for hours. In religious procession they move towards their houses with their flags.

Karma festival takes place in the month of Bhado or August - September. This is a brother and sister festival. The sisters observe fast till the worship of karam tree is not over. Brothers ride on karam tree and their sisters remain below in order to collect branches that were broken by them. The branches of tree should not fall below on the ground. Thereafter they are kept in the middle of Akhara. Each brother worships in the night. After worship is over, the prasad is shared by all brothers and sisters present there. This worship is concluded by a dance that continues for the whole night.

Sohrai puja takes place in the month of Kartik or the month of November. This is a cattle festival. On this day, all farm animals are washed in the pond. Ghee and vermilion is put on their horns and head. They are also offered a dessert to eat.

Jitiya is a festival for children that take place in the month of Ashwin or September -October. In this festival the mother observes fasts. The breakfast consists of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Nawakhari festival takes place in the month of Aghan or November -December after the paddy harvest. The ancestral spirits, the village deity and cattle deity are worshipped. They are offered with khir of sunfried rice available from the harvesting of paddy.

The Phagu festival is celebrated in the month of Phagun or Feb.-March. Dyes are sprayed on each other.

The Artisan tribes also worship Hindu gods. Festivals like Ramnavami, Durga puja, Shivaratri, Makarsakranti, Shrawan purnima, Kartik purnima. The Lohara, Karmali, Chik Baraik and Mahli tribes worship lord Vishwakarma.