Badna or Sohrai is one of the biggest festivals among Santhal people.
Details
Badna is celebrated when the planting of paddy crops is completed. They celebrate it as the festival named “Sohrai”. This festival is celebrated among many communities, like -kole, munda, kora etc., but is celebrated a little bit different in the Santhal community because their animal helps them to grow crops in field. Therefore, they are acknowledging them by this "Badna" festival.
It starts from each and every house. This festival lasts for three days. The first day they worship their ancestors and bongas (sacred spirit). Worship is done in the field. An egg is placed over a field where all the animals (mainly cows) are taken. The owner of the animals which scramble the egg is obliged to provide handi (drink) (a rice-based drink) to the villagers in the coming year.