The tribal communities in West Singhbhum’s villages have started to celebrate the Maghe festival in full swing. The Education Department has decided to celebrate the Maghe festival in schools throughout the West Singhbhum district on February 23, 2024, in observance of this tradition.
A holiday has been proclaimed for all district schools, including government, non-government, and private aided schools, in honor of this celebration. Minority schools will also be observing this holiday. About this decision, the District Education Superintendent has released a corrigendum.
Following requests to modify the previously announced holiday on February 6th from a number of social and educational organizations, the holiday announcement was made. Consequently, the new holiday date is set for February 23rd. A portion of the December 28, 2023, memorandum has been revised to include all private, aided, government, and non-government elementary schools, including minority schools.
The community has embraced the Education Department’s decision because it shows that it respects and acknowledges regional traditions and customs.
What is Mage Parab?
This is a tribal celebration mostly observed by the Ho people of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha, along with a few Munda and Bhumij communities. It honors the deity Singbonga, who according to Ho mythology is the creator of mankind, and occurs in the month of January–February
In addition to communal hunting and feasting, ritual sacrifices and offerings to Singbonga, singing and dancing around bonfires, and rekindling social ties and bolstering community spirit, people celebrate the mage parb.