Jamshedpur, March 31: Members of the Dalma Buru Sendra Samiti (DBSS) will ensure that no firearm and traps enter the Dalma wildlife sanctuary on the occasion of Sendra this year.
The outfit has made an appeal to the tribal community to celebrate the annual festival in a symbolic manner but it is not taking chances when it comes to the safety of animals.
DBSS on Thursday made an appeal to the tribal community to celebrate Sendra in a symbolic manner. Rakesh Hembrom, chief priest of the samiti, said though an appeal has been made to the tribal community, but will not take any chances when it comes to safety of animals.
The DBSS has convened a meeting at Gadra village on April 8 to discuss preparations for Sendra. Dalma authorities have also been invited for the meeting. �Dates of the festival will be announced at the meeting. Sendra will be celebrated sometimes in May,� Hembrom added.
The forest department’s drive to conserve wildlife by putting a ban on hunting and killing of wild animals, tribals have shown results with Sendra Samiti, Dalma and villagers declaring to celebrate their indigenous annual hunting festival peacefully.
Hembrom re-iterated that there would be no bloodshed. �We have asked the hunters not to carry nets, guns or any tranquilizers. This year the focus would be much on cultural program and related activities,” he said.
Chhote Hembrom, the adviser to the samiti said that they would also keep a close watch on hunters from neighboring Bengal and Odisha who climb the hill with lethal weapons.
�We will prevent entry of hunters from the neighboring states, who usually take shelter in the Dalma wildlife sanctuary the night preceding the festival,” he said adding that the samiti members would keep a vigil on all the entry points to the sanctuary.
The samiti informed about their decision to forest officials. The samiti would also appeal to all the tribal organizations in the next couple of days to not kill animals during Sendra but observe token rituals.
Jointly with the Dhalbhum forest division, the samiti would also chalk out the cultural and other programs to be organized on the day of the festival to attract the tribals.
�We are hopeful that the tribals would wake up early in the morning and worship their deities but will not go ahead for hunting as the senior functionaries of the Sendra Samiti has assured us about their plans, �noted a Dalma range forest officer.
It may be mentioned that every year, the forest department tries to aware villagers about the importance of wildlife and animals but still dozens of animals including deer, boar and wild buffaloes are killed during.
Clad with hunting weapons like bows and arrows, they go into the jungle in search of animals by beating drums and chanting of holy hymns.
