The Karam festival of various small ethnic groups including Orao and Santal was held in Thakurgaon. People of these communities celebrate this festival by worshipping a special tree called Karam in the hope of a good harvest, for the happiness and peace of the family, and for their own well-being.

The festival began on Friday night in Panchpirdanga village of Salandar union in Sadar upazila. The festival ended on Saturday with the worship of the Karam tree and its immersion in the river. The festival lasts for two days with fasting during the day and dancing, singing and worship after breaking the fast. Towards the end of the monsoon, canals, rivers and streams become full. Youth comes to nature with a dark green color. Water lilies and lotuses bloom in the canals and streams. After planting rice, the tribal community enjoys endless leisure. ‘Karam’, one of the annual festivals of the small ethnic groups, comes in the month of Bhadra.

Every year at the end of Bhadra and the beginning of Ashwin, the Orao community organizes this festival. According to the Oraos, this festival is celebrated on the Shukla Ekadashi of the month of Bhadra. The festival is prayed to the tree god to give a good harvest in the coming year. Worship songs are sung around this tree. Tribal children of all ages, from teenagers to old people, young people and young women, all join in the prayers of the tree god to the tune of this song. To get close to the tree god, seeds of various crops such as paddy, mustard seeds, black pepper, wheat are placed at the base of this Karam tree, praying to the tree god to give a good harvest in the coming year, and the community dances and drinks Hariya (a special kind of drink) throughout the night.

Locals said that to celebrate the Karam festival, tribal men and women fast from sunrise to sunset on the first day of the festival. Special food is prepared in the evening. After offering it to the creator, it is distributed among the invited guests and family members. The Karam Puja begins with the tribal women fasting all day. Later, they dance and sing to the beat of the madal, dhol, cymbals and jhumri and bring branches of the Karam tree (Khil Kadam) from the bushes in the area. Then they build a worship altar. When the sun’s light inclines to the west, the branch of the Karam tree is planted on the worship altar. The tribal priest recites a religious story in the light of the festival. Along with that, the explanation of the story is accompanied by an explanation. When the explanation is over, the young men and women dance around the altar. Meanwhile, after the priest finishes reciting the religious story, the fasting women break their fast by inviting each other to eat. After this, the invited guests and relatives are entertained. The Karam festival officially ends with the immersion of the Karam dal in the local river amidst solemnity.

Thakurgaon District Tribal Council President Jacob Khalko said that various small ethnic groups including Santal, Orao, Mahato, Baraik, Kurmi, Singh, Pahan, Mahali, etc. observe Karam Puja in their own ways. This festival is called Karam Utsav because the branches of the Karam tree are cut and various ancient customs are followed.

Municipal BNP President Shariful Islam Sharif, National Indigenous Council Advisor Imran Hoson Chowdhury and others were present as the chief guests at this traditional festival organized by the Karam Puja Celebration Committee and National Indigenous Council and in collaboration with the district administration and ESDO.