Ramgarh: Preparations are nearing completion in Nemra, the ancestral village of chief minister Hemant Soren in Ramgarh district’s Gola block, for a community feast following the shradh rituals of his mother, Rupi Soren.The 10th day rituals will be held on Oct 17, while the ‘Sanskar Bhoj’ (community feast) is scheduled for the next day. The rituals are being conducted in accordance with Santhal traditions and customs.Hemant has distributed white invitation cards printed in Hindi and Ol Chiki, the Santali script, inviting people to attend the shradh ceremony. Male members of the family and relatives have joined him in performing the rituals.Three large pandals have been set up for the feast, including a separate one for VIPs and VVIPs expected from different states. Each pandal can accommodate around 1,500 people at a time. The district administration has arranged catering, drinking water, parking and security.People from Jharkhand and neighbouring states are expected to attend. Visitors are likely to come from Gola, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Ranchi, Dumka and other districts. Politicians from across parties have also visited Nemra to pay their respects to Hemant’s mother.Fagu Besra, state general secretary of JMM, said the maternal side of the family had performed its customary role as part of the Santhal rites. Relatives brought male goats, hadia, matchboxes and sal leaf plates, locally known as khala patta. Families unable to bring goats contribute cocks or other items, he said.Rupi Soren (75), wife of Shibu Soren and mother of Hemant, died at a private hospital in Ranchi on Oct 7. Her last rites were performed at Nadi Ghat in Nemra on Oct 8. Hemant has stayed in Nemra since then and has been taking part in the rituals, following tribal customs.A senior police officer said additional personnel and barricades had been deployed in the village.
