Culture & Heritage

HERITAGE:-

RATNESHWAR DHAM-

The most popular is the Ratneswar dham situated in Shivpur muhalla at Godda Town. Ratneswar dham similar to Baba Baidyanath Mandir has a rich collection of Shivalingas where people from every part of the world come and tribute the holy water to Lord Shiva. The people fetch the water from Sultanganj in Bihar and walk barefooted for about 50 km to reach here every Sawan Mas  in June. The place has many temples in its premise and people nearby  come and visit there every day. Markets and shops are plenty in number nearby the Dham.

YOGINI MAA MANDIR-

Yogini maa mandir situated in Pathargama is also globally famous. It is believed that Goddess sati bodypart had fallen at this place when Lord Shiva was carrying her body around the world. People from various parts of the world visit the place which is located on a hilltop having around 400 stairs to move to the peak. There is a very small cave where the deity exists. People enter into the cave to have a look at it. It is very difficult to get in and come out. But the person doing is blessed deeply. A ropeway to get on the hill is being constructed. This place again has a pleasant market place situated on both the sides of the road.

SUNDER DAM-

The Sundar dam is situated along the Godda-Pakur state highway at a distance of around 10 km. This place has a very rich collection of wildlife and has a huge forest reserve. This place is unique in the country. Many waterfalls and breeze have their origin here. It is an excellent Picnic spot and people from other districts and states love to come here every 1st day of January with their relatives.

LALMATIA-

The Lalmatia region of the district also has many hillocks and plains where people come and spend their holidays. It is situated near Mahagama and has roads connecting Godda to Bihar. Lalmatia has the credit of occupying the continents largest open cast mining belt and its coal is supplied to various parts of the world. People come here and visit the loading point where they get to see how coal is extracted from the earth using dynamite whose sound is clearly heard for 17 km. Loading point is 10 kilometres away from the site where blasting occurs and people have to apply for gate passes to go there.

CULTURE:-

SANTHAL PARAGANA TRIBES:-

Oraon-

Oraon comb-cut paintings can be traced back to ancient times. Images of cattle, feeding troughs, papyrus, birds, fish plants, circled lotus, zigzag, square, opposing triangle geometric forms, arches in series-are common. Floral art forms are used during harvest time.

Ganju-

Ganju art forms are characterized by images of animal, wild and domesticated, and plant forms. Large murals of animal, birds, and floral exotica, decorate homes. Endangered animals are often depicted in picture-story tradition.

Kurmi-

Kurmi, a unique style of ‘sohrai’, where drawing outlines are scratched onto the surface of wall with nails and a wooden compass is used to etch the segmented lotus, Pashupati or Lord Shiva is depicted as a horned deity on the back of a bull, Red, black and white lines are drawn in pairs on either side to represent the ashes of ancestors. The Kurmis of Bhehwara use glyptic art to represent plants on the walls and floors of their homes.

Ghatwals-

Ghatwals use glyptic paintings of animals on their forest dwellings.

Turi-

Turi who are a small community of basket-makers use predominantly floral and jungle-based motifs in natural earthy tones on the walls of their homes.

Birhor & Bhuiya-

Birhor & Bhuiya use simple, strong, and authentic graphic forms like ‘mandalas’, painting with their fingers, Crescents, stars, yoni, rectangles with corner petals, ovals with flared lines and concentric circles, are common.

Manjhi Santhal-

The striking warring figures painted in black o simple clay plaster walls are startling reminders that their origins probably had links with the Indus Valley civilization