Fair at Sukuenburu, MARANGHADA

19^th December 2011

By Jitendra kumar Mahato

The historical hill Sukuenburu is situated near village Totadah, 7-8 kms from Maranghada and near about 25 kms east from Khunti. It has a great importance for the history of Jharkhand and for Munda community. When the Munda People from Sutiyambe spread in the different directions of Jharkhand, they lost communication with their own people due to separation. Few intellectual Mundas met with each other and decided to have a gathering of Munda community every year. And they decided the Sukuenburu hill as their meeting spot. It is the matter of about a millennium ago. All the Mundas were signaled through the bonfire on the Hill. The distant Mundas get signal through it. Day after they saw the bonfire, they used to come and gather on the mountain top. It brought continuity in their brotherhood. They used to sing and dance there. Another trend of kite flying also started from there. This trend is contemporary as old as the Munda history.

                                                At present the day of gathering is 9^th day after the full moon of December. This year the day was 19^th December 2011. A team of Janmadhyam in the guidance of Pravin kumar went there to reveal the history. They saw people started coming to the hill early in the afternoon. All climbed it by walking. Few cars were also standing on the midway of the hill. The climbers were form 6 years child to 60 years old lady. Children were very much excited. Youth was trying to look fashionable. New born baby also came in their mothers lap. Children and youngsters came with their colorful dragon kites mend by them. They started flying them. In the next five minutes the sky was full with colorful kites. Every part of the kites was prepared with love and labor. The string with Kudrum fiber, the frame with bamboo sticks along with colorful paper. The scenario was amazing to feel. In the middle of the hill top people started dancing and singing their folk songs….

“Hai re gore hauwa…

 Maji pati hauwa”

People danced for hours in the beat of nagaras till dusk. After that they started coming down singing and dancing. Midway was full with fair shops. People enjoyed Gulgullas, Khurmas and groundnuts.

                                    Faces were happy seeing their own people gathered. This has become the best medium of Mundas to interact with their community. Seeing their unity we can say, “As long as Sukuenburu is there the love and brotherhood of Mundas will stay immortal”.