Rijiju joins Karam Milan Samaroh, Jharkhand's festival, in Delhi
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju attended the Karam Milan Samaroh, a celebration of Jharkhand's Johar festival, held in New Delhi on September 27 and organised by MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, highlighting central government outreach to the state's tribal communities.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju , Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, attended the Karam Milan Samaroh in New Delhi on September 27, 2026 .
The event was organised by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth , a BJP leader with ties to Jharkhand .
The Karam festival is a major tribal cultural celebration in Jharkhand, centred on the Karam tree and prayers for prosperity.
Johar is a traditional tribal salutation of Jharkhand that gives the festival its popular name in Delhi diaspora circles.
The gathering reflects a recurring pattern of Union ministers attending state-specific cultural events in the capital as community outreach.
Jharkhand's vibrant Karam festival travelled to the capital on Sunday, September 27, 2026, as Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju joined the Karam Milan Samaroh — a celebration of the beloved tribal festival — organised in New Delhi by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth.
What is the Johar festival — and why it matters to Jharkhand
The Karam festival, integral to the cultural calendar of Jharkhand's large tribal communities, centres on the worship of the Karam tree and prayers for prosperity, good harvest, and brotherhood. The greeting Johar — a traditional salutation among the state's tribal peoples — reflects a distinct identity that the state's diaspora in Delhi carries with fierce pride. Bringing that celebration to the capital gives the community a moment of belonging far from home.
Seth's Delhi event bridges Jharkhand's community in the capital
MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader with close ties to Jharkhand, organised the gathering as a platform for the state's community settled in New Delhi. Rijiju's attendance alongside Seth underscores how Union ministers from different portfolios periodically show up at state-specific cultural events in the capital — a pattern of routine but symbolically weighted outreach to regional communities.
For Jharkhand's tribal communities, recognition from senior central government figures at such occasions carries weight: it signals that their cultural identity registers at the national table, not just within the state's borders.
Point of View
But it fits a deliberate pattern: BJP ministers from states with significant tribal populations — Jharkhand prominent among them — use cultural gatherings in Delhi to maintain visibility with diaspora communities. Sanjay Seth organising it and Rijiju lending cross-portfolio presence amplifies that signal. With Jharkhand's tribal identity politically significant for the NDA coalition, such gestures of cultural recognition carry quiet strategic weight even when they generate no headline policy announcement.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karam Milan Samaroh?
The Karam Milan Samaroh is a cultural gathering celebrating Jharkhand's Karam festival — a tribal celebration centred on the Karam tree, prayers for prosperity and brotherhood — held for members of the Jharkhand community living in New Delhi.
What is the Johar festival of Jharkhand?
'Johar' is a traditional salutation among Jharkhand's tribal communities and lends its name to the festival atmosphere surrounding Karam celebrations; it symbolises brotherhood and cultural pride.
Who organised the Karam Milan Samaroh in Delhi?
The event was organised by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth , a BJP leader with close connections to Jharkhand.
Why did Kiren Rijiju attend the Jharkhand festival event?
Rijiju attended as a senior Union minister, part of a recurring practice where central government figures participate in state-specific cultural events held in Delhi to show solidarity with regional communities.
When and where was the Karam Milan Samaroh held?
The event was held in New Delhi on Sunday, September 27, 2026 .
