Sendra was celebrated on Monday with only the observance of rituals as most tribal groups avoided entering the Dalma forest to hunt animals.

The lockdown and social-distancing protocols ensured that the annual hunting festival, also known as Bishu Shikhar, was observed in a symbolic way.

Dolma Buru Sendra Samity, the frontal outfit that organises the festival every year, had requested tribal groups from neighbouring states to abide by the lockdown and not come to Jharkhand.

As such, only local groups observed the rituals outside the forest.

In keeping with the tradition, the tribals had come with bows, arrows, spears and wire mesh, but only as a symbolic gesture.

“We just observed the necessary rituals in Asanboni and didn’t venture too deep into the forest. Some groups might have entered the forest, but most of them followed the lockdown rules,” said Fakir Soren, a tribal who stays in a nearby village.

Around 50 forest officials deputed for duty kept patrolling the forest during the day.

The lockdown did not allow the forest department to depute a larger force like other years.

Chandramauli Prasad Sinha, divisional forest officer of Ranchi Wildlife Division, said there was no news on animal hunting on Sendra. However, a small group of 15 tribals was spotted and caught inside the Dalma forest on Monday, he said.

“They didn’t hunt animals, but we spotted them inside the forest. The number of tribals was way too less this year because of the lockdown. Therefore, we could manage with a lesser number of forest officials. The tribals wore traditional garments, carried traditional weapons and performed their puja,” Sinha said.