Sacred groves and Sarna

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Sacred groves in the Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha regions of the Chota Nagpur plateau are natural places of worship revered by tribal people. Samaism, as the faith is known in these parts, is popular, especially among Santals.Sarna Dharma, religion of sacred woods, helps protect and preserve natural woodlands, areas and forces of nature preserved as the abode of village devatas, who protect the flora, fauna and people. The village deity is known as Gaon Khunt, gram devata, Marang Buru and Singbonga, depending on the tribe that is propitiating the goddess.

All indigenous peoples revere and propitiate the Mother Goddess as Dharti Ayo and Chalapachcho Devi, referring to the earth and nature, as goddess. In Chota Nagpur, Sal tree groves are treated as sacred groves, called Jaher Than or Jaher Ghar. Sacred worship is carried out by the community, with participation of village priests, pujaris and devotees.

The sacred grove could also include other trees like mahua, neem and banyan trees. During the festival of Sarhul, ancestor worship, pots filled with water are brought to the Sarna, along with offerings of the Sakua flower and leaves. If the level in the water pots falls, it is believed that the monsoon will fail.