Culture of Jharkhand

The state of Jharkhand in India is located in the eastern part of the country and is known for its vivid culture, distinct paintings, traditions and festivals.
Hindi is the official language of Jharkhand. There are many regional and tribal languages in Jharkhand.
The regional languages that belong to the Indo-Aryan branch; in Jharkhand, they are Khortha, Nagpuri, and Kudmali spoken by the Sadan, the Indo-Aryan ethnic groups of Chotanagpur. Other Indo-Aryan languages include Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, Bengali, and Odia. The languages that belong to the Austroasiatic branch are Mundari, Santali, Bhumij and Ho. The languages that belong to the Dravidian language family are Kurukh and Malto.
The staple foods in Jharkhand are rice, dal, vegetables, and tubers. Some dishes include Chilka Roti, Malpua, Dhooska, Arsa roti, and Pitha. Rugra (a type of mushroom) and bamboo shoots are also used as vegetables. The leaves of the Munga tree (Moringa oleifera) and the Koinar tree (Bauhinia variegata) are used as leafy vegetables or Saag.
Local alcoholic drinks are Handia made from rice and Mahua ,daru made from flowers of the Mahua tree.
Chhath Puja is celebrated on the sixth day of the lunar month of Kartika (October–November). It's a major festival in Jharkhand. The rituals are observed over four days. They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (vrata), standing in water, and offering prasad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun. Some devotees also perform a prostration march as they head for the river banks. Chhath puja is dedicated to the sun god "Surya" and his sister "Chhathi Maiya".
Karam is a major native harvest festival of Jharkhand. It is celebrated on the 11th day of a full moon of the month of Bhado by the tribal (Munda, Bhumij, and Oraon) and the Sadan (Khortha, Nagpuri, Kurmali-speaking group) people of Jharkhand. During this festival, people bring branches of the Karam tree to the village and then place them on the ground. The branches are washed with milk and handia, and decorated with garlands, curd, rice, flowers and grains. The village priest "Pahan" offer sacrifice of Karam devta for good harvest.
During the festival of Jitia, mothers fast for the well being of their children. It is celebrated from the seventh to the ninth lunar day of Krishna-Paksha, in the month of Ashwin.
Nawakhani is an important festival that occurs in Jharkhand. During this festival, grains are eaten following the harvest.
Sohrai is a cattle festival of Jharkhand's. It is celebrated during the Amavasya of the month of Kartik. It coincides with the Diwali festival. People fast throughout the day, and bathe their cattle. In the evening, sacrifices are offered to the cattle deity.
Phaguwa, or Holi, is the spring festival which falls in the month of Phalgun. In spring, people collect sal flower blossoms and place them on their roofs. There are special songs and dances for this festival.
Other festivals include Tusu, Dussehra, Sarhul, Baha, Ashadhi, Jantal and Sendra festivals.
There are several folk dances in Jharkhand, including Jhumair, Domkach, Lahasua, Vinsariya, Jhumta, Fagua, Firkal, Painki, and Chhau.
Musical instruments used include Mandar, Dholki, Bansi, Nagara, Dhak, Shehnai, Khartal, and Narsinga, among others.
Sohrai painting is performed during the Sohrai festival. Various designs are painted in courtyards and on walls.
The local tattoo tradition of Godna is an essential part of local tradition.
Jharkhand produces many films in regional languages, including Nagpuri, Khortha, Santali, Ho, and Kurukh. The first feature film of Jharkhand was Aakarant, made under the banner of Drishyantar International in 1988. The first Nagpuri film was Sona Kar Nagpur (1994), produced and directed by Dhananjay Nath Tiwari.