Santal spirituality has often woven its own rhythms around the influences of Hinduism, Christianity and, to a lesser extent, Islam—resulting in a rich tapestry of beliefs that feels anything but one-dimensional.

• Hindu Cross-Pollination
Centuries of living alongside Hindu-majority communities have led many Santals to adopt elements of Hindu ritual and iconography. While Parganas in Jharkhand burst into life during Durga Puja and Diwali, Santals blend these celebrations with their own deer-dance (baha) and harvest rites. Krishna sometimes appears—not as the laid-back cowherd of Vaishnavism but reimagined as a benevolent spirit ally. Yet this isn’t mere copy-and-paste: Santal rituals maintain the primacy of marang bâbâ (spirits of nature) and marang ghorhi (spirits of dead ancestors), giving any Hindu touchpoints an unmistakable Tribal accent.

• Christian Conversions and Creativity
Since mid-19th century missions established schools in Bengal and Bihar, Christians now form a significant Santal minority. Conversion often was a bid for education and escape from caste-based discrimination, but even devout Santal Christians preserve certain animist practices. Church services might echo with beats of the tamak’ and dhodro, and farewell rites for the dead can include offerings to the sun and forest spirits alongside hymns. Contemporary Christian festivals such as Jonkh Jatra (New Year) blend Bible readings with traditional harvest songs, reflecting a genuine hybrid.

• Glimpses of Islamic Interaction
Islamic influence remains relatively muted, mostly appearing where Santals share markets and fields with Muslim neighbors in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Occasional participation in Eid gatherings, offering sweets at shrines or borrowing Islamic phrases for blessing—“Bismillah”—speak to cordial coexistence rather than wholesale adoption.

Today's Santal religious landscape feels like a well-seasoned curry: each ingredient retains its own flavor, yet mingles into something new. Recent tribal rights movements and cultural festivals across Jharkhand and Bangladesh celebrate this fusion, reminding everyone that spiritual life, like any living tradition, thrives through dialogue rather than isolation.