Karam puja is a harvest festival celebrated in Indian states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha and West Bengal. It is the most important festivals of tea tribe communities of Assam with a view to propitating "Mother of Earth" - the goddesses of creation. It is celebrated on the night of "Bhado Ekadasi" which is generally in the mid of August.
It is believe that by the blessing of God "Karam" they will get bumper crops and their family will be saved from evil. This festival celebrated for good harvest. Nine type of seeds planted in basket such as rice, wheat, corn etc which is called Jawa. Girl take care of these seeds for 7–9 days. In festival girls fast throughout day. In the ritual, people go to the jungle accompanied by groups of drummers and cut one or more branches of the Karam tree after worshiping it. The branches are usually carried by unmarried, young girls who sing in praise of the deity. Then the branches are brought to the village and planted in the center of the ground which is plastered with cow-dung and decorated with flowers. A village priest (called Pahan) offers germinated grains and liquor in propitiation to the deity who grants wealth and children. A fowl is also killed and the blood is offered to the branch. The village priest then recites a legend to the villagers about the efficacy of Karam puja. After puja, in the next morning the karam branch immersed in the river.
Groups of young villagers go to the jungle and collect wood, fruits, and flowers. These are required during the puja (worship) of the Karam God. During this period, people sing and dance together in groups. The entire valley dances to the drumbeat "day of the phases".
There is a general belief that the desire of a man germinate send in human body is fulfilled by the worship of mohther earth. More over woman pray for better conjugal life. The dance perform in the night of Karam Puja is called "Jhumair Nritya". It is basically a group dance perform by the rhythm of "Dholl" and "Madal" by a group of young man and woman.
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