PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, May 9: Tribals from various places including neighbouring Odisha and Bengal would be converging at Dalma wildlife sanctuary to celebrate Bishu Shikar or Sendra, their annual hunting festival on May 9, Monday.
The Dolma Buru Sendra Samiti (DBSS), a frontal outfit of tribals, took stock of the preparations at a meeting at Gadra here today.
The outfit had already sent an invitation to their tribal brethren in Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha for the annual event, which remained subdued during the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are preparing to celebrate the festival after a two-year gap. We will assemble on the foothills of Dalma to perform puja on May 7 and 8 before climbing the hills on the early morning of May 9,” said a member of the outfit.
Tribals from Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha, armed with spears, bows and arrows and even firearms, converge inside the sprawling 192 sq km elephant abode and spend the entire day. Since hunting is banned in the sanctuary, tribals do try to kill animals.
Dalma authorities keep a tight vigil at the sanctuary in the run-up to the hunting festival. Patrol teams tour the sanctuary and also seize traps and nets which are spread at strategic pockets by the tribals. Frisking is also done at the Makukalocha and Fadlugora entry points to prevent the entry of firearms.
Dalma wildlife sanctuary, located some 30 km from Jamshedpur is a home for Asiatic elephants. Several other wild animals are also found including wild boars, giant Indian squirrels, spotted deer and peacocks.
