Soumik Banerjee and Surja Paharia
On the 29th of November, 2017 to celebrate the rich diversity of uncultivated food collected and consumed by the Paharias from the forests of Sundar Pahari a Wild root and Tuber Festival was organised at Ghagri village. Wild roots and tubers make a vital contribution to the diet of the Paharias with several of them having medicinal properties as well. Women from neighbouring villages brought a variety of tubers from their forests for display at the festival. A tribute to the rich diversity of the forests of Sundar Pahari was the fact that the villagers put 21 different roots and tubers on display at the Mela.
