Santhals have a corporate life. They live as a community in Iheir mandali villages. Their community identity is greater than iheir individual identity. There is perfect communal harmony among the members of the village. Structurally a Santhal village is a linear cluster with a regular open space or straight streets between parallel rows of houses.l Each village is divided into - vo parts. The first part consists of 'Jaher Than' and the 'Majhi Than'. The Jaher Than is a part of the old forest. The 'Jaher 7nan' consists of tall, slim, sal tree and mohua tree lined by other rows of trees, where their deities reside. 2 This is a part of the old forest, established as a sacred grove by the pioneer residents. The site is determined after careful selection. The Majhi Than' is the shrine of the spirits of the departed headmen. 1 is generally situated in the heart of the village. The second part of the village is the main residential area. The agricultural fields lie outside the nuclear village. There is a separate grazing land for cattle.
A Santhal village is intersected by a fairly wide and unpaved srreet running from east to west with trees like mango, jack fruits……
village. Structurally a Santhal village is a linear cluster with a regular open space or straight streets between parallel rows of houses.l Each village is divided into - vo parts. The first part consists of 'Jaher Than' and the 'Majhi Than'. The Jaher Than is a part of the old forest. The 'Jaher 7nan' consists of tall, slim, sal tree and mohua tree lined by other rows of trees, where their deities reside. 2 This is a part of the old forest, established as a sacred grove by the pioneer residents. The site is determined after careful selection. The Majhi Than' is the shrine of the spirits of the departed headmen. 1 is generally situated in the heart of the village. The second part of the village is the main residential area. The agricultural fields lie outside the nuclear village. There is a separate grazing land for cattle.