ABSTRACT
If the Baha festival is a collective effort to woo the bongas and ensure that marriages are fertile - the Jiwet’ Karam is a private ceremony that supplements this worship and avails of yet another source of help. Unlike the Karam festival of the Uraons, it is not an annual ceremony nor one that the village itself must regularly perform. Manjhi Karam is done when a new headman first assumes office and seeks to associate his term of service with fertility and welfare. Dangua Karam is done when village boys and girls are ripe for marriage and their early wedding, with many children, is desired. Guru Karam celebrates the starting of an ohja’s practice while Cela Karam marks the end of the pupils’ class and celebrates their initiation. Each ceremony focuses on the magical properties believed to be inherent in the Karam tree and by honouring the Karam seeks to obtain an increase in wealth and progeny.
