Bettiah: A large gathering marked World Tribal Day at Champapur village in Don region of West Champaran district on Sunday with members of the tribal community celebrating their cultural heritage with traditional fervour.People from several nearby villages, including women, men and youths, attended the event in traditional attire. The venue came alive with traditional songs, dances and discussions on social traditions, values and the need to preserve tribal identity amid changing times.Local social worker Deoraj Mahto said World Tribal Day had been celebrated in the region for years in a traditional manner. “The objective of this event is not only to celebrate but also to connect the younger generation with their language, culture, and ancestral heritage,” he said, adding that preserving tribal traditions amid modern changes was a shared responsibility.Folk dances, including Jhoomta, Jhoomar and Dandiya, were performed during the programme.Naresh Oraon, former mukhiya of the Oraon-dominated Dholbajwa-Laxmipur panchayat, said the tribal population in West Champaran was over 2.5 lakh and was spread along the Indo-Nepal border from Valmikinagar to Mainatand.He said the community celebrated all its festivals traditionally and placed great importance on nature worship and conservation. They revered animals, birds, mountains, rivers, streams, fields and trees, believing every element of nature had life. He also said the community considered taking dowry a complete sin.Participants took a collective pledge to protect their cultural identity and heritage.
