Why in News?

• On the last day of the week-long 'Manda' festival in Jharkhand, a large number of devotees gathered on the streets to take part in the celebrations.
• A special person known as a 'Bhokta' stood at a height of 25 feet and showered flower petals on the crowd below.

Key Points:

=> Tribals celebrated Manda Puja, an age-old annual ritual to appease gods for good rainfall and bumper crops.

=> It typically occurs during the spring season and marks the culmination of the agricultural cycle.

=> In Chutia region of Ranchi, the Manda Puja Samiti held the festival at the Shiv temple which was attended by Ranchi Municipal Corporation deputy mayor.

=> During the celebration, followers participate in walking on fire and suspending themselves upside down from a bamboo structure connected to their backs after observing a fast for seven to nine days.

=> A distinctive aspect of the Manda festival is the role of the 'Bhokta,' typically male devotees who observe strict fasts throughout the festival.

=> These Bhoktas hold a revered position within the community and play a central role in the festival's ceremonies.

=> After Chutia, the festival is observed across the state in 500 locations including in Rajaulatu, Sidroll, Tetri and Hundru Basti.

Tribes of Jharkhand:

• The Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of Jharkhand State is 7,087,068 as per the 2001 census, constituting 26.3% of the total population (26,945,829) of the State.
• The Scheduled Tribes are primarily rural as 91.7% of them reside in villages.
• District wise distribution of ST population shows that Gumla district has the highest proportion of STs (68.4%).
• The STs constitute more than half of the total population in Lohardaga and Pashchimi Singhbhum districts whereas Ranchi and Pakaur districts have 41.8 – 44.6% tribal population.
• Kodarma district (0.8%) preceded by Chatra (3.8%) has the lowest proportion of the STs Population.