Why President Murmu Uses The Word ‘Johar’?

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What has happened?

According to several tribal leaders from Jharkhand, the word ‘Johar’ also means ‘paying respect’.
Just like Namaskar, “Johar” is also used along with folded hands to greet people, or in case of elders, by touching their feet.
Tribal communities are nature worshippers and follow Sarna religion code, although it is not an official religion.
“Juhar” is also one of the rituals of Nuakhai, an agricultural festival celebrated to welcome the new crop.
It is a combination of two words – ‘nua’ means ‘new’ and ‘khai’ means ‘to eat’.

There are 32 tribal communities in Jharkhand who speak different dialects.
Almost all, including tribal Christians, use the word ‘Johar’ along with some other words for salutation.
Johar, is predominantly used by Santhali, Munda and Ho communities that share some similarities.
People belonging to the Oraon community use the word ‘Jai Dharam’, apart from Johar, as a salutation.

There are at least four types.
One of them is ‘Doboh Johar’, which is used between people where one among them has a higher standing.
Ratan Tikrey, a former member of Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) said that in ‘Doboh Johar’ there is a ritual where the person with a tumbler full of water bows in front of the person of higher standing.
“The person who bows will touch the earth and in return the other person will wash his/her hand (using water in the tumbler) and let the water drop on the earth.
The entire exercise means that the hospitality being shown has been accepted.”