‘Johar’ greeting used by President Droupadi Murmu

The 15th President of India, Droupadi Murmu, assumed office with a ‘Johar’ greeting to the country.

About Johar:

• ‘Johar’, which essentially means ‘salutation and welcome’.
• It is used within the tribal communities of Jharkhand, and in parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• According to several tribal leaders from Jharkhand, the word ‘Johar’ also means ‘paying respect’.
• Tribal communities are nature worshippers and follow Sarna religion code, although it is not an official religion.
• "Juhar" is also one of the rituals of Nuakhai, an agricultural festival celebrated to welcome the new crop.
• It is a combination of two words - 'nua' means 'new' and 'khai' means 'to eat'.

The tribal communities that use the word ‘Johar’ for greeting:

• There are 32 tribal communities in Jharkhand who speak different dialects. Almost all, including tribal Christians, use the word ‘Johar’ along with some other words for salutation.
• Johar, is predominantly used by Santhali, Munda and Ho communities that share some similarities.
• People belonging to the Oraon community use the word ‘Jai Dharam’, apart from Johar, as a salutation.

Form of ‘Johar’ salutation:

Doboh Johar:

• One of it is ‘Doboh Johar’, which is used between people where one among them has a higher standing.
• In ‘Doboh Johar’ there is a ritual where the person with a tumbler full of water bows in front of the person of higher standing.
• The person who bows will touch the earth and in return the other person will wash his/her hand (using water in the tumbler) and let the water drop on the earth.
• The entire exercise means that the hospitality being shown has been accepted.

Choh Johar 

• Choh Johar is a kind of greeting shown by the elders towards younger ones. 
• Choh Johar is different for men and women.
• When a woman performs Choh Johar, she touches chin of the kid with both her hands and then pull it towards itself with the sound of kiss.
• This gesture shows that she is taking away all the miseries of the kid.
• When a men does Choh Johar he brings his right hand over his younger ones head and then take it back to its own head.
• This is a way of taking away all his sorrows.

Bala Johar

• Bala Johar is a special type of Johar (greeting) done by parents and relatives of bride and bridegroom.
• Style of doing Bala Johar by men is different from that of women.
• When it is done by men they stand facing each other holding each other’s hand.
• Right hand is held by left and vice versa.
• Then they gently collide their chests five times in different angles.
• When it is done by women’s they bend a little and hold each other’s hand and gently collide their heads five times.
• This Johar is done when the relatives of bride and bridegroom meets.