Santhal Woman Grinding Black Soil to Prepare Natural Color for Sohrai Painting

24-Mar-2026

This image depicts the traditional process of preparing natural colors for Sohrai art by women of the Santhal tribe in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand. In the photograph, a woman from the Santhal community is seen grinding black soil on a stone slab using a pestle-like stone. This black soil is used to prepare the natural black color that is applied in Sohrai painting. Such soil is not easily found everywhere, but is sourced from the forests and hilly regions of Jharkhand. The women of the Santhal tribe collect it from the forest and grind it carefully until it becomes a fine powder, which is then used as a natural pigment for painting. This process reflects the traditional art of the Santhal tribe, their deep connection with nature, and the cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations.