Sar the customary bow and arrow made of bamboo, is, as the Birhor believe, one of the forest-dwelling indigenous communities found in eastern India, mostly in Jharkhand. The handmade arrow reflects the Birhor people people-especially their knowledge about their natural environment and survival skills-in addition to cultural identity.
The Sar is constituted of two primary components, of which one piece is made of a single long and thin bamboo having cut notch at the butt end for holding bowstring. Near this notch, feathers—typically from a raven—are skillfully affixed therein to ensure directional stability during flight. The use of feathers from a raven is significant, as it reflects the close relationship the tribe shares with the local fauna and dependence on natural resources.
The second, which is the iron blade head, is forged very well and possesses a central midrib with two backward-facing barbs at its base. All these features would further boost the penetration of the arrow and retention when hunting. Wrapped in cotton cloth on the anterior side of the shaft, just after the arrowhead, the arrow measures around some six inches in length. The wrapping not only strengthens the shaft but also keeps the arrow stable during flight, making it extremely accurate and efficient.
Hunting for a small and medium game, Sars is actually a weapon but it also symbolizes sustenance and traditional life and craft of the Birhor tribe.