Demand for Sarna religion code gains momentum in Dhanbad

Ranchi: The demand to implement the Sarna religion code has gained strength in Dhanbad. The Sonot Santhal community held a strong protest on Friday at Randhir Verma Chowk in Dhanbad, demanding recognition of their religious identity and rights. Before the protest, the community members took out a large procession. The procession moved through various city routes and reached Randhir Verma Chowk, where they staged a sit-in.

Hundreds of tribal people participated in the protest in traditional attire, accompanied by drums, nagadas, bows, and arrows.

At the protest site, leaders of the Sonot Santhal community, Ramesh Tudu and Ratilal Tudu, told the media that their community has been demanding the Sarna religion code for years, but the central government has been ignoring it. With the census approaching, they said it is unfortunate that there is no separate religion code for the tribal community.

They added that the tribal society is nature-worshipping and reveres water, forest, land, rivers, and mountains as divine, yet their religious identity is not recognized in official documents.

The protesters clarified that this movement is not driven by any political agenda but is aimed at protecting tribal identity, culture, and rights. Several women's organizations, youth groups, and tribal cultural teams also participated in the sit-in protest.