Standing wooden sculpture elucidates artistic and cultural significance of the Santhal tribe. The Santhal tribe is among the largest indigenous communities of India. They are predominantly located in the state of West Bengal. They have a rich cultural heritage, which consists of excellent craftsmanship, especially wood carving.
Its reduced design is nevertheless compelling and is often a representation of a spiritual entity or ancestral spirit. According to Santhal culture, such sculptures play an important role in rituals and represent the divine forces that protect the community or mark events of importance in their lives, such as birth, marriage, or death.
The entire carving process defines the Santhals' culture in synergism with nature, art from local wood with elements that talk to their very essence. The standing wooden sculpture is, in other words, more than an item of decoration; it's an object of culture palpably embodying the spirituality and social significance of the culture. Displaying such sculptures in community arenas or homes keeps the tribe's spiritual beliefs and connection to land alive. In West Bengal, the artistry of the Santhal tribe is very much alive, with wooden sculptures still representing one of their cultural identities and artistic legacies.