Overview

The Santal, or Santhal, are an ethnic group native to India and Bangladesh in South Asia. Handia, a locally made drink which is considered staple at all the community events and occasions, is made from fermentation of rice. Chullu which is further prepared from the rice’s distillation process occupies a sizable portion of village economy, especially the economy of poor tribal people. According to NSSO, an average person in rural India consumes 220 ml of alcohol in a week. TAADER NAAKI GOLPO BOLA MAANA is just one of the stories that are known to these tribal lands, mostly unheard of in urban circles, yet are not to be told in rural as well. It is one of the regular days in the life of one Santhal family where 3kg of rice yields upto 9 litres of handia approximately. It is mostly the womenfolk who participate in the making of this drink.