![]() Flag of Sarnaism | |
![]() The Sarnaism Symbol used by Santals | |
Total population | |
---|---|
c. 5 million[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
![]() | |
Jharkhand | 4,131,282[2] |
Odisha | 403,350[2] |
West Bengal | 403,250[2] |
Bihar | 10,407[2] |
Chhatisgarh | 8,057[2] |
Sarnaism is a religious faith of the Indian subcontinent, predominantly followed by indigenous communities in the Bangladesh and India's Chota Nagpur Plateau region across states like Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh.[3][4]
The essence of the Sarna faith revolves around Nature worship. Its core principles emphasize jal (water), jaṅgal (forest) and jamīn (land), with adherents offering prayers to trees and hills while believing in the protection of forests.[3] This belief centers around the reverence of Sarna, the sacred groves of village communities where the village deity, known as Gram deoti resides, and where sacrificial offerings are made twice a year. It is also referred to as "Sarna Dharma" or the "Religion of the Holy Woods",[5][6] and it holds the distinction of being India's largest tribal religion.[1]
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