Jamshedpur: With the Dalma Buru Sendra Samiti (DBSS) announcing that it would observe the Bisu Sendra festival on April 27, officials of the Dalma forest division launched an awareness drive to prevent hunting of wildlife by festive enthusiasts.Dalma divisional forest officer (DFO) Saba Alam said, “The initiative aims to educate villagers, particularly teens and youths about wildlife conservation. The broader objective is to make them aware how the forest and the wildlife are important for sustainable human existence.”The head of sendra samiti, Dalma Raja Rakesh Hembram, said, “Sendra festival is an annual hunting ritual observed in accordance with the tradition and customs of the indigenous community.”“Sendra veers (brave hunters) from Seraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum districts of Kolhan division besides Purulia, Jhargram, Bardhaman, Bankura, Medinipur, and Birbhum of West Bengal, and Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda of Odisha, will come together to observe sendra,” he added after sending invitation letter (gira sakam) to tribal village heads for attending the hunting festival.He informed that prayers will be observed in all tribal villages in build-up to the festival. Community prayers will be organised at Makulakocha, foothill village of Dalma, and then the enthusiasts would embark on hunting the animals on the eve of the festival.Sendra veers will spend the night in the forest and hunt in the pre-dawn hours.
