Sun and Moon: Central to Santal cosmology, these celestial bodies appear everywhere—from the bold circles framing mural backdrops to the delicate sunbursts embroidered along women’s skirts. They’re more than decoration, signaling the rhythm of seed-sowing and harvest, much like recent Sohrai murals celebrating new rice yields after monsoon spells in Jharkhand villages.

Sal Tree and Earth Mother (Marang Buru): The mighty sal tree, revered as Marang Buru’s earthly avatar, anchors every household shrine. Its leaf-shaped motifs—repeated in wedding Khovar paintings—stand for fertility and protection. During the annual Sarhul festival (which saw lively processions even amid this spring’s record rainfall), these leaves appeared in kaleidoscopic rows on walls and bamboo altars.

Geometric Patterns: Dots, concentric circles, triangles and zigzags form a visual language that threads through every art form. In Sohrai wall paintings—now gaining attention from UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage desk—these motifs map out cosmic journeys, guiding spirits during community rituals. These patterns also surface in Ol Chiki script adaptations on prayer flags, a modern twist fueling pride among younger Santals.

Animal Imagery: Deer, peacocks and elephants—each a totem in Santal lore—will often peek from the corners of gamcha textiles or dance across clay pots. At a tribal artisan fair in Kolkata last winter, stylized peacocks shimmered in bamboo inlays, echoing the community’s link to forests and wildlife conservation efforts.

Embroidery and Textiles: Vibrant threads weave stories on shawls, madanis and dhotis. Sun-shaped mirrors and sequin “raindrops” catch the light during harvest dances, symbolizing blessings summoned by ancestors. Contemporary designers have even begun collaborating with Santal women’s cooperatives, bringing these motifs to urban runways while ensuring fair incomes.

Music and Dance: Though intangible, songs played on the banam (a one-string bowed instrument) and rhythms from the kham drum carry symbols in their very structure—beats that mirror pulse and earth-steps that invoke ancestral footsteps. These performative arts, showcased at last year’s Tribal Festival of India, reaffirm how deeply art and spirituality intertwine in Santal life.