Jungle Mahal

Jungle Mahal (Bengali: জঙ্গলমহল Jongolmohol, Hindi: जंगल महल Jangal Mahal), literally the "jungle estates", was a district of British India, comprising the present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal in eastern India. The region is known for its deep forests, undulating landscapes and tribal cultures.

Jungle Mahal consists of the following regions:

• Jharkhand (Dhanbad, East Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan)
• West Bengal (Bankura, Jhargram, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia)

Before the Jungle Mahal district was created in 1805, there was a series of uprisings by the tribal communities in the region in 1798-99, against the oppressive policies of the British East India Company. The rebels were called "Chuars", meaning "barbarians". The district was created as a response to the unrest. It comprised the areas around Bishnupur, Dhanbad, Ghatshila, Jhalda, Jhargram and Purulia.

In 1833, the district was split into Burdwan and Manbhum districts within the South-West Frontier Agency. The Bankura district was created on 16 March 1881 out of the former Jungle Mahal areas of Burdwan and Manbhum. Manbhum eventually became a part of Bihar, leaving Burdwan and Bankura under Bengal.

In the 1950s, the Bengali speakers of Manbhum in Bihar demanded for the recognition of Bengali in the region. In 1956, the Bengali-speaking Purulia district was carved out of Manbhum, with the rest remaining part of Bihar as Dhanbad district. In 2000, southern Bihar got split into its own state called "Jharkhand", literally the "land of forests".

Jungle Mahal is a forested region on the eastern fringe of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. It is home to hills like Ajodhya, Baranti, Biharinath, Dalma, Joychandi, Panchkot and Susunia.

Jungle Mahal is home to various Adivasi tribes, including Bagal, Baiga, Binjhari, Kharia, Ho, Korwa, Kudmi, Kurukh, Lohra, Munda and many others.

There are many festivals observed in the region, including Bhadu, Karam and Tusu.

Bhadu is a month-long festival during the Hindu lunisolar month of Bhadra.

Karam is a local harvest festival held on Bhadra Ekadashi in the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which falls between August and September. Unmarried women fast and grow seedlings for 7–9 days. Then next day, groups of young villagers go to the jungle and collect wood, fruits and flowers. During this period, people sing and dance together in groups.

Tusu is anothet harvest fesitval held during Makar Sankranti (14-15 January).