Yes, take the not so treaded path, and discover priceless jewels in a beautiful corner of a state known for its natural and cultural wealth. Amadubi not just another village in the heartland of Jharkhand’s vast rural areas- It’s a treasure house that any visitor will never forget. The place is now a focus point in the Tourist Map of the Department of Tourism, Governmnet of Jharkhand.
Have you heard of Payatkar Art?
Strangely enough, the artists paint their pieces on soiled and used papers, and on scrolls made from leaves and barks of trees. They use vermilion and natural colours applying them with needles or the hairs of a goat. They are known as Chitrakars (literally picture craftsmen) and Amadubi is their home. But these paintings are found across the length and breadth of the undivided Singhbhum because the artists of the Payatkar community are roamers and move around from place to place. Once they reach a house where a person has recently died or a new baby is born, they start telling tales and sing songs by way of self-composed lyrics. Tales of GarurPuran (scriptures on a mythical Bird God who is the bearer of Lord Vishnu) frorm the very essence of these paintings. This languishing painting form has been successfully revived and there are more than 100 artists painting today in Amadubi. Kala Bhavana the Art Department of Rabindranath Tgore’s VishwaBharti at Santiniketan have joined hands to train and re-train Paytakar Painters, giving them new, more marketable ideas and to make their art commercially viable. Even the environment of the village whose hutments have artistic borders and wall paintings are charming. You can paint with the Chitrakars if you want – live experience –brought to you by the NGO Kalamandir.
Heritage is still alive at Amadubi
It’s alive in the many monumets and artifacts that exist across the village.
Rajbari Temple: was once part of the palace as the name indicates and stands about a kilometer from Dhalbhumgarh Bolck Office at Narsingarh, the Rajbari premises.
Trivineshwar Temple: shares the premises with the Rajbari and it features ‘three lingas’ which represent Bramha, Vishnu and Maheshwar (the three principa Gods of the Hindu pantheon).
Dasbhuja Temple or Durga Temple: is an ancient temple dedicated to the ten-armed goddess whose deity still stands within the crumbling ruins of the Rajbari, surrounded by other temples and lake.
The Panch Pandvas: this is a place of legend, north –west of Ghatsila where five large rock formations are fond which resemble the five Pandava brothers of the epic Mahabharata.
Ras Temple: the unique architectural beauty of this temple is noteworthy and also the fact that the temple is supposed to be from the very ancient ‘Dwapar’ Age of Indian history
Kotwal Temple: About a kilometer from Dhalbhumgarh was probably dedicated to an army general.
Ruam: this village was in ancient times a place where the lay-Jains or Sravakas had settled. This quaint and pretty village is about 4 kilometers from Mahulia. Some researchers disagree and call this the remnants of a fort under the Raja of Ruam. There are a couple of water bodies and huge heap of petrified copper slag which probably indicates ancient mining in the area.
Guhiapal: here there are archeological artifacts that date back to a civilization that thrived on the banks of the Subarnarekha river in the 10th Century BC. You still get to see brick structures, artifacts, coins etc. If you visit the Bahragora Block of Singhbhum District.
Now let’s put you in the festive mood
Truly, paintings, heritage and historical monuments, and natural charms apart, Amadubi can play host too many colourful festivals which include spectacular tribal dances, rituals, religious and social festivities.
Ever present in the background is the rhythmic beat of the mandar (a kind of drum that throbs to set your heartbeat a flutter and your feet a tapping) and the staccato sounding Dhol. The festivals are only separated by the seasons and include the Goma, the Karma, the Sohrai or Chaitraparav and they are for you to enjoy.
Look at the Festive Season
In September –October: there’s the Jomnamah when the first crop is ready for harvesting
In October – November: there’s the Dansai which the Santhal tribe celebrates dancing away the day to the accompaniment of their own musical instruments called the Bhuang and Kansar- Ghanta. It happens just before the initial days of Durga Puja.
In November – December : on new moon day celebrate Sohrai and see how tribal communities relate to animals see how they worship cattle.
In January – February: enjoy the Makar Sankranti and Tusu Parb a truly joyous and lively festival.
In February- March: there’s the Sarhul festival that men and women celebrate with the delicate flowers of the Sal tree (Baa) to mark the splendor of nature in season.