World Indigenous Day Celebrated at St. Albert’s College, Ranchi

Ranchi, August 9, 2025: St. Albert’s College marked World Indigenous Day with a vibrant cultural evening on Friday, held in the college’s cultural hall at 5:30 pm. The event gathered minor seminarians from the ASPUNJ Formation House, hostellers from Ursuline and St. Anne Convents on Purulia Road, Ranchi, to inspire awareness and reconnect participants with their roots.

Bro. Mukesh Lakra, House Monitor (Jashpur Diocese), welcomed the gathering and outlined the history and significance of the day. The audience was captivated by cultural presentations showcasing the rich traditions of various tribes.

Four traditional dances – Sarhul (Munda), Karam (Kharia), Lepcha (Nepali), and Bagurumba (Assamese) – filled the evening with colour and rhythm. The Santhal Pargana brothers presented Maghe Porob, a New Year festival that offered fresh insight into tribal customs.

A moving performance by the Oraon Tribe addressed the social issue of the Netarhat Field Firing Range, calling for unity to safeguard Jal, Jungal, and Zamin (water, forest, and land). Brothers from Odisha depicted a traditional marriage ceremony, highlighting joint family values, loyalty, and enduring spousal bonds. A Malayalam song remix from the Southern Peninsula mesmerised the crowd.

Chief guest Fr. Ajay Kumar Xaxlo, Rector of the college, urged the audience to cherish and defend the environment: “The land is our mother. Therefore, we ought to respect and preserve our natural sustainable resources and demographic identity in this digital world.”

The celebration was meticulously organised by cultural moderator Fr. Solomon Tirkey and his team. Alongside staff and students, 236 special guests attended, including minor seminarians, school and college students, working women, and their supervisors from nearby areas.

Bro. Manuel Murmu (Purnea Diocese) delivered the vote of thanks, praising the collaborative effort of all groups. The event closed with a resounding “Johar!” echoing through the auditorium.

By Fr. Alok Toppo, SAC, Ranchi

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