On the occasion of Kartik Purnima, chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren visited Luguburu Ghantabari and performed puja at the holy shrine of the Santhals. Luguburu Ghantabari is situated on the Lugu hill under Gomia block in Bokaro.

The largest religious gathering of the Santhal tribals, organised every year on Kartik Purnima, was not held this year due to the ongoing pandemic.

The CM said that Luguburu is the religious centre of deep faith. Every year the occasion was arranged with great pomp, but this time due to Coronavirus the event was cancelled.

Security was beefed up, as the area is Maoist prone. DC, Bokaro, Rajesh Singh; DIG, Koylanchal, Prabhat Kumar; SP, Bokaro, Chandan Kumar Jha and other officers and political leaders were present at the occasion.

Soren prayed for the well-being of the people and wished that the residents sail safely through this moment of crisis. At the same time, he also appealed to the people to follow the norms of wearing a mask and social distancing in the prevention of the Covid-19 virus.

He also met members of the Dharamgarh Committee during his visit.

Santhals are the largest tribal community in the country. Lakhs of Santhal tribals from across the country and abroad used to assemble for a two-day religious gathering organised every year on Kartik Purnima at Luguburu.

The decision was taken on November 26 in a meeting held between the administrative officials and Dharamgarh Committee at Shyamali Atithi Bhavan of TTPS, Lalpania. The arrival of outside devotees at Luguburu Ghantabari Dharamgarh was banned as well. Dharamgarh committee appealed to the devotees to worship at their respective homes on the day of Kartik Purnima in view of the pandemic.

Santhals visit their most sacred shrine once every year to worship Lugu Baba and perform religious rituals. Tribals used the gathering to discuss the development of their Santhali culture. Every year a huge fair was organised on the occasion which drew large numbers of residents from local areas, but this year the fair was also banned.

“This is our biggest religious gathering. The Santhals from Nepal, Manipur, Orissa, Bihar, and other states participate in the function,” said Babuli Soren.

Lugu Baba temple is situated in the vicinity of hills and is adorned with natural beauty. The devotees have to walk more than six kilometres on foot climbing the hill for the darshan of Lugu Baba. There is a big natural cave atop the hill inside where devotees offer puja to Lugu Baba. The Lugu hill is about 70 kilometres from the district headquarter and has a dense forest cover.