India is a land of diverse cultures and vibrant festivals that continue throughout the year across different states. One such significant celebration is the Karam Puja, dedicated to the worship of Karam Devta. While it originated among the tribal communities, the festival has gained widespread popularity and is now celebrated with great fervor in various states, including Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. Each of these states has embraced Karam Puja as an integral part of their unique cultural heritage. In recognition of its significance, the state administrations have declared a full holiday to allow people to participate in the festivities and honor Karam Bhawaban, the revered deity of the Karam Puja.
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Significance of Karam Puja:
Karam Puja, also known as Karma Puja, is a vibrant harvest festival celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Baiga, Oraon, Binjhwari, and Majhwar tribes across several Indian states, including Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. The festivities revolve around the sacred Karam tree, which holds immense significance in the celebrations. At the heart of Karam Puja is the worship of Karam Devta, the revered god of fate, power, youth, and eternal youthfulness. This joyous festival is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and traditions of these tribal communities, who come together to honor their deity and express gratitude for the bounty of nature.
Karam Devta :
The evergreen tree, known scientifically as Nauclea Parva and referred to as ‘chiklata’ by the tribal community, symbolizes fertility and prosperity. During the festival, dancers carry a branch from the Karam tree while singing. The branch is then smeared with milk and rice beer before being raised, around which the dance group performs.
Like many Hindu festivals, the Karam festival is rich with fascinating and colorful legends. One such legend is the story of Karam Rani:
Story behind the Karam Puja:
In a small village, seven brothers toiled tirelessly in their fields, their days consumed by the demands of farming. Their wives, who lovingly prepared their meals, would often bring lunch to the fields, as the brothers couldn't afford to take a break. However, one fateful day, the wives forgot to bring lunch, entranced by the mystical allure of a Karam tree branch. They danced and sang around it, lost in reverie, as the hours slipped away.
The brothers, exhausted and famished, returned home to find their wives still entranced. Anger and hunger got the better of them, and in a fit of rage, one brother seized the branch and hurled it into the river. Little did they know, this thoughtless act would incur the wrath of Karam Devta, the revered deity associated with the tree.
As fate would have it, the family soon found themselves grappling with economic hardship, their fortunes dwindling rapidly. Desperate for a solution, they sought the wisdom of the village priest, who guided them to retrieve the branch and worship it with reverence. The brothers, filled with remorse, searched the river and finally found the branch, which they brought back home to venerate.
Their repentant act appeased Karam Devta, and slowly but surely, the family's economic fortunes began to revive. To ensure that such a calamity never befell them again, the brothers vowed to honor Karam Devta annually, thus giving birth to the tradition of Karam Puja. From then on, the festival became an integral part of their lives, a testament to the power of reverence and the importance of respecting nature's sacred symbols.
Season of Karam Puja:
Karam Puja, a vibrant harvest festival, typically unfolds during the autumn season, falling between August and September, as dictated by the lunar calendar. This joyous celebration serves as a heartfelt expression of gratitude by tribal communities to their revered deity, Karam Devta, who is believed to preside over fate, destiny, and the bounty of nature. As the god of crops and forests, Karam Devta is revered for his benevolence and protection, making Karam Puja a poignant tribute to the intricate relationship between nature and humanity. Through this festival, the tribal communities acknowledge the deity's significance in their lives and seek his continued blessings for a prosperous harvest season.
Date of Karam Puja 2024:
14th September 2024 (Saturday) 'Badromas Ekadashi Tithi Puja
Adibashi Dance for Karam Puja:
The Karma dance, also known as Karma Naach, is a vibrant tribal dance performed by the tribes of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and other regions. This traditional dance takes place during the autumn festival of Karma Puja. The tribal community performs this folk dance in front of the Karam tree, which symbolizes the Karam Devta. Through the Karma dance, the tribe seeks to appease Karam Devta, the God of Fate, hoping to receive his blessings. They believe that worshipping Karam Devta brings prosperity and influences their fate, both good and bad.
Referance : karmapuja.org,