Place In News
Dispute over Parasnath Hill
- 19 May 2025
- 2 min read
The Jharkhand High Court directed the state government to enforce a pre-existing ban on the sale and consumption of meat, alcohol, and intoxicants on Parasnath Hill, a site sacred to both Jains and the Santal Adivasi community.
- Significance of Parasnath Hill: It is known as Parasnath to Jains and Marang Buru (literally “the Great Mountain”) to Santals.
- For Jains: It is the site where 20 of 24 tirthankaras, including Parshvanatha, attained nirvana, many Jain temples and dhams are situated on the hill.
- For Santals: Marang Buru is the supreme animist deity and seat of justice. The Jug Jaher Than (sacred grove) on the hill is the most sacred dhorom garh (religious site) of the Santals.
- Lo Bir Baisi, the traditional Santal tribal council, convenes at the base of the hill to resolve inter-village disputes.
- The Santal Hul of 1855, led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, was a major tribal uprising launched from Marang Buru.
- Parasnath Hill Dispute: A major flashpoint is the Sendra festival, a traditional ritual hunt held by the Santals on the hill.
- This practice, a rite of passage for Santal men, starkly contrasts with Jain values of non-violence and vegetarianism, leading to a legal battle between the Santals and the Jains.
- Santals: The Santal tribe, one of India’s largest indigenous communities, primarily resides in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam.
- They speak Santali, a constitutionally recognized language (Eighth Schedule) with its own script Olchiki, created by Pandit Raghunath Murmu.
- Dance (enej) and music (sereng) remain core to their cultural expression during festivals and social gatherings.
| Read more: Santhal Hul of 1855 |
