Hello,

The Parasnath hill in Madhuban, Jharkhand, is one of the most revered sites of the Jain community. Thousands of pilgrims travel to the town every year, and visit the shrine atop the hill, where they believe 20 tirthankaras attained salvation.

But the hill is also a sacred site to the local Adivasi community, who know it as Marang Buru. Central to their practice is an annual hunt, known as Sendra, that is conducted on the hill.

Many in the Jain community believe that this hunt, as well as other traditions, including the sacrifice animals and the consumption of local liquor, violate the sanctity of the hill. Adivasi, however, argue that their traditions are age-old, and that Jains are attempting to use their economic and social dominance to stifle their already marginalised culture.

Nolina Minj travelled to Madhuban to speak to members of both communities. and understand how this long-standing conflict is playing out today, and how it raises fundamental questions of what constitutes sacred space.

“While researching this story I realised that the lives of Jains and Santal Adivasis in and around Madhuban are deeply enmeshed together,” Minj said. “Neither community can survive without the other. Nonetheless, the discreet legal and administrative battles for claims over the hill reveal an underlying tension between the two communities that hasn't been resolved for more than a century.”

You can read the story here.

And you can support more such in-depth journalism by signing up ad a subscriber to Scroll.

Ajay Krishnan
Senior Editor

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Marang Buru vs Parasnath: The conflict over Jharkhand’s highest peak

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