Bonda tribe's Jhati Mora festival observed in Bondahills

The Jhatimora festival ( Aading) of the Bonda tribe was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm in the remote hill regions of Malkangiri district, Odisha, highlighting the community’s rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted customs. Observed annually, Jhatimora holds significant social and spiritual importance for the Bonda people, one of India’s most ancient and distinctive tribal communities.The festival is closely associated with agriculture and nature worship. Members of the tribe gather to offer prayers to ancestral spirits and local deities, seeking protection, good health and a bountiful harvest. Rituals are conducted by village elders and priests, who follow age-old traditions passed down through generations.Men and women dressed in traditional attire participated in colourful group dances, accompanied by rhythmic beats of indigenous drums and musical instruments. The celebrations also served as a platform for social interaction, strengthening unity and harmony within the community. Traditional food and locally brewed drinks were shared among participants, symbolising collective joy and togetherness.Jhatimora is not merely a festival but a reflection of the Bonda tribe’s close relationship with nature and their resilient cultural identity. Despite modern influences and developmental changes in the region, the continued observance of Jhatimora underscores the community’s commitment to preserving its heritage. Local residents and cultural observers described the festival as a vivid reminder of Odisha’s diverse tribal traditions and cultural richness.