{{Short description|Festival celebrated in India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox holiday | official_name = | holiday_name = Karam | nickname = Festival of Harvest | observedby = | observances = Jharkhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh, parts of West Bengal, Odisha and Bangladesh | type = Regional Festival/Indian festival | significance = Harvest festival | begins = Ekadasi tithi (eleventh day) of lunar fortnight of Bhado | date = August–September | duration = 1 day | frequency = annual }}
'''Karam''' (colloquially '''Karma''') is a harvest festival celebrated in Indian states of Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha and Bangladesh. It is dedicated to the worship of Karam-Devta, the god of power, youth and youthfulness. It is celebrated for good harvest and health.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/wangala-tusu-karma-8-lesser-known-harvest-festivals/cid/1688761|title=Wangala, Tusu, Karma: 8 lesser-known harvest festivals|publisher=m.telegraphindia.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avenuemail.in/jamshedpur/karam-festival-shows-to-way-to-humanity-harivansh/124287/|title=Karam festival shows to way to humanity: Harivansh|publisher=www.avenuemail.in|access-date=30 April 2019|archive-date=30 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430055911/https://www.avenuemail.in/jamshedpur/karam-festival-shows-to-way-to-humanity-harivansh/124287/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[File:Karam puja in jharkhand.jpg|thumb|Karam puja in Jharkhand]] [[File:Karam puja 4.jpg|thumb|Karam puja in Jhargram, West Bengal ]] [[File:Karam Festival in Assam.jpg|thumb|Karma puja in Assam]] The festival is held on the 11th day of a full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Bhado, which falls between August and September. Unmarried girls fast and grow seedlings for 7–9 days. Then next day, groups of young villagers go to the jungle and collect wood, fruits, and flowers. These are required during the puja (worship) of the Karam God. During this period, people sing and dance together in groups. The entire valley dances to the drumbeat "day of the phases".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jharkhand.gov.in/festivals |title=Festivals : Official Website of Government of Jharkhand |publisher=Jharkhand.gov.in |date=2016-04-13 |accessdate=2016-09-04 |archive-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918081327/http://www.jharkhand.gov.in/festivals |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.odishatourism.gov.in/portal/Festivals/TribalFestivals/KaramaFestival.aspx |title=Karama Festival |publisher=Odishatourism.gov.in |date=2014-02-21 |accessdate=2016-09-04 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926225527/http://www.odishatourism.gov.in/portal/Festivals/TribalFestivals/KaramaFestival.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Karam festival celebrated by diverse groups of tribes, including: Munda, Ho, Oraon, Bagal, Baiga, Binjhwari, Bhumij, Kharia, Kudmi, Karmali, Lohra, Korwa and many more. It's also celebrated by non-tribal Hindus of and Magadh regions of Biharand Jharkhand It's also known as Karma ekarasi(Ekadasi) or Karma Dharma.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Māhāta|first=Paśupati Prasāda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x5npAAAAMAAJ|title=The Performing Arts of Jharkhand|date=1987|publisher=B.B. Prakasan|pages=3|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Brahma |first=Tr̥pti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fclJAAAAMAAJ |title=Lokajībane Bāṃlāra laukika dharmasaṅgīta o dharmīẏa melā |date=1983 |publisher=Tr̥pti Brahma |pages=240 |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Singh|first1=K. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw9uAAAAMAAJ|title=India's Communities|last2=India|first2=Anthropological Survey of|date=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-563354-2|pages=167|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakraborty (Anthropologist)|first=Swapan Kumar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnIJ-HwynRIC|title=Bagals of Border Bengal|date=2012|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India|isbn=978-81-922974-2-2|pages=113–117|language=en}}</ref><ref name="dailypioneer.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/talk-on-nagpuri-folk-music-at-ignca.html|title=talk on nagpuri folk music at ignca|website=daily Pioneer|date=7 November 2018}}</ref>
==Summary of the ritual== This festival is observed for a good harvest. Nine type of seeds planted in basket such as rice, wheat, corn etc which is called ''Jawa''. Women take care of these seeds for 7–9 days. During this festival women generally fast throughout the days.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jagran.com/jharkhand/ranchi-akhara-bachi-to-culture-mukund-nayak-19555098.html|title=अखरा बाची तो संस्कृति बाची : मुकुंद नायक|website=jagran|date=7 September 2019|access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> In the ritual, people go to the jungle accompanied by groups of drummers and cut one or more branches of the Karam tree after worshiping it. The branches are usually carried by unmarried, young girls who sing in praise of the deity. Then the branches are brought to the village and planted in the center of the ground which is plastered with cow-dung and decorated with flowers. A village priest (Pahan or Dehuri according to region) offers germinated grains and liquor in propitiation to the deity who grants wealth and children. A fowl is also killed and the blood is offered to the branch. The village priest then recites a legend to the villagers about the efficacy of Karam puja. After the rituals, in the next morning the karam branch immersed in the river.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kislaya |first1=Kelly |title=Songs, dance and hadia usher in Karma Puja {{!}} Ranchi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Songs-dance-and-hadia-usher-in-Karma-Puja/articleshow/9921512.cms?from=mdr |work=The Times of India |date=9 September 2011 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dot.odishatourism.gov.in/?q=node/350|title=Karama Festival|publisher=dot.odishatourism|access-date=22 October 2022|archive-date=22 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022020843/https://dot.odishatourism.gov.in/?q=node/350|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The festival is observed in two ways. Firstly, it is commonly held by the villagers on the village street and the expenses on liquor etc. are commonly borne. Alternatively, it is celebrated by a man in his courtyard under his patronage to which he invites all. Even people who come uninvited listening to the sound of drums are also entertained with liquor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 September 2024 |title=Know why unmarried girls keep Karma fast. |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/life-and-style/karma-puja-2024-why-girls-do-karma-fast |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=Prabhat Khabar}}</ref>
==Details== The Karam festival is celebrated usually on Bhado Ekadashi, on the eleventh day of the bright full moon (Purnima) of the month of Bhado (August–September). In some parts of jharkhand it was also celebrated in November. The Karam tree, scientifically named ''Nauclea Parvifolia'' is the center of the proceedings of the festival. The preparations for the Karam festival begin around ten or twelve days before the festival. Nine type of seeds planted in basket such as rice, wheat, corn etc which is called ''Jawa''. Young, unmarried girls take care these seeds for 7–9 days.
The morning of the Karam festival begins with women pounding rice in the dheki, a wooden implement, to obtain rice flour. This rice flour is used to make a local delicacy which can be sweet as well as salty. This delicacy is cooked in the morning of the Karam festival for consumption, and shared throughout the neighborhood.
Then the people begin the ritual dance with a yellow bloom tucked behind their ear. A branch of the Karam tree is carried by the Karam dancers and passed among them while they are singing and dancing. This branch is washed with milk and rice beer (Tapan).<ref name="Prabhat Prakashan">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qzAoEAAAQBAJ&pg=RA7-PA50|title=JHARKHAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PRELIMS EXAMS COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PAPER|author=Dr Manish Ranjan|date=2021|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|isbn=978-9390906321|pages=50}}</ref> Then, the branch is raised in the middle of the dancing arena. After reciting the legend - the story behind the worshiping of Karam (Nature/God/Goddess) - all the men and women drink liquor and spend the entire night singing and dancing; both are essential parts of the festival, which is known as Karam Naach.
Women dance to the beat of drums and folk songs (''siring''). The Puja is followed by a community feast and the drinking of hariya. The next day, the Karam tree is sprinkled with curd of the seas and immersed in the river bed.<ref>Kislaya, Kelly (9 September 2011) [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Songs-dance-and-hadia-usher-in-Karam-Puja/articleshow/9921512.cms?from=mdr Songs, dance and hadia usher in Karam Puja]. Times of India</ref>
==Philosophy== Karam is a harvest festival. The festival also has a close link to nature. People worship trees during this festival as they are a source of livelihood, and they pray to mother nature to keep their farmlands green and ensure a rich harvest. It is believed that the worship for good germination increases the fertility of grain crops. Karam Devta (the God of power, youth and youthfulness) is worshiped during the festival. The devotees keep a day-long fast and worship the branches of karam and sal. Girls celebrate the festival for welfare, friendship and sisterhood by exchanging a jawa flower.<ref>[http://indroyc.com/2012/09/26/karam/ Karam — a Festival of Jharkhand | Indrosphere]{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Indroyc.com (26 September 2012). Retrieved on 2015-09-27.</ref>
==Story behind the celebration== There are multiple versions of the story behind the origin of Karam Puja. Anthropologist Hari Mohan writes that after the rituals are over, the karam story is narrated to boys and girls. The story behind the festival, according to Mohan, is this:<ref>Mohan, Hari (1973) ''The Chero: A study in acculturation''. Bihar Tribal Welfare Research Institute</ref>
{{blockquote|Once upon a time there were seven brothers who labored hard at agriculture work. They had no time even for lunch; therefore, their wives carried their lunches to the field daily. Once it so happened that their wives did not bring the lunches for them. They were hungry. In the evening they returned home and found that their wives were dancing and singing near a branch of the karam tree in the court yard. This made them angry, and one of the brothers lost his temper. He snatched the karam branch and threw it into the river. The karam deity was insulted; as a result, the economic condition of their family continued to deteriorate and they were brought to the point of starvation. One day a Brahman (priest) came to them, and the seven brothers told him the whole story. The seven brothers then left the village in search of the Karam Rani. They kept on moving from place to place and, one day, they found the karam tree. Subsequently, they worshiped it and their economic condition began to improve.<ref>[http://www.jharkhandstatenews.com/uprooting-the-trees-in-a-festive-waythe-story-of-karam-rani/#.VgYIRNKqqko Uprooting the trees in a festive way;The Story of karam Rani] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221135244/http://www.jharkhandstatenews.com/uprooting-the-trees-in-a-festive-waythe-story-of-karam-rani/#.VgYIRNKqqko |date=21 February 2016 }}. Jharkhand State News. Retrieved on 27 September 2015.</ref>}}
Among the Bhumijs and the Oraons the legend is that there were seven brothers living together. The six oldest used to work in the field and the youngest stayed at home. He was indulging in dance and songs round a karam tree in the courtyard with his six sisters-in-law. One day, they were so engrossed in dance and song that the brothers' morning meal was not carried to the field by the wives. When the brothers arrived home, they became agitated and threw the karam tree into a river. The youngest brother left home in anger. Then evil days fell on the remaining brothers. Their house was damaged, the crops failed, and they virtually starved. While wandering, the youngest brother found the karam tree floating in the river. Then he propitiated the god, who restored everything. Thereafter he returned home and called his brothers and told them that because they insulted Karam Devta, they fell on evil days. Since then the Karam Devta has been worshipped.
Another legend prevalent among the Pauri Bhuiyans is that a merchant returned home after a very prosperous voyage. His vessel was loaded with precious metals and other valuables which he had brought from distant lands. He waited in the vessel to be ceremoniously received by his wife and relatives, as was the custom. As it was the day of the Karam festival, all the women were engrossed with dancing and the men with playing the drums, so no one came to receive him. The merchant became furious with them. He uprooted the karam tree and threw it away. Then the wrath of Karam Devta fell on him. His vessel immediately sank in the sea. The merchant consulted astrologers who told him to propitiate Karam Devta. He launched another vessel, set out in search of the deity, and found him floating in the sea. He propitiated him with great devotion and all his wealth was restored. From that day on, the annual festival of Karam Puja has been held. After spending the whole night with dance and songs, the people uproot the branches and carry them to nearby rivers or rivulets for immersion.<ref>[http://www.odishatourism.gov.in/portal/Festivals/TribalFestivals/Karam Festival.aspx Karam Festival]{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Odishatourism.gov.in (21 February 2014). Retrieved on 2015-09-27.</ref>
== Further reading == *{{Cite web|last=Ekka|first=Reetu Raj|date=2016-02-16|title=The Karam festival of the oraon tribals of India|url=http://asbbs.org/files/2009/PDF/E/EkkaR.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-19|series=A socio-religious analysis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216034343/http://asbbs.org/files/2009/PDF/E/EkkaR.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2016}} *{{Cite web|last=Bhagvat|first=Durga|title=The Karma Festival and Its Songs|url=https://www.sahapedia.org/sites/default/files/The%20Karma%20Festival%20and%20Its%20Songs.pdf|website=Sahapedia}}
==References== <references />
==External links== {{Commons category|Karam festival}}
Category:Harvest festivals Category:Religious festivals in India Category:Festivals in Jharkhand Category:Festivals in West Bengal Category:Culture of Jharkhand Category:Nagpuri culture Category:Tribal festivals in India Category:Hindu festivals in Bangladesh