Sarnaism

Sarnaism is a religious faith of the Indian subcontinent, predominantly followed by indigenous communities of the Chota Nagpur Plateau region across states such as Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. The essence of the Sarna faith revolves around nature worship. Its core principles emphasize jal (water), jaṅgal (forest) and jamīn (land), with adherents offering prayers to trees and hills while believing in the protection of forests. This belief centres around the reverence of Sarna, the sacred groves of village communities, where the village deity, known as Gram Deota, resides, and where sacrificial offerings are made twice a year. It is also referred to as "Sarna Dharma" or the "Religion of the Holy Woods", and it holds the distinction of being India's largest tribal religion.