The Kurmis or Kurmi Mahatos, a prominent caste in eastern India (but originally a tribe), are settled agriculturists, who celebrate the festival of Bandna as an occasion to offer thanks to their cattle who have partnered them in their day to day agricultural activities.  The songs of this festival are called Ohira, dedicated to their cattle. Ohira songs are songs of the cowherd or Ahir. They are an acknowledgement of the role of cattle in their day to day lives. 

The festival which is celebrated for four days, always begins on the night of Kali Puja. Like the Santals who celebrate a similar festival which they call Sohrai, the Kurmis collect clay to repair their homes and cowsheds and give them a makeover. They decorate their homes with paintings. During the days of the festival, the farmers treat their cattle with special care : they bathe and  oil them, feed them with special grass and give the animals complete rest.  They decorate the cows by stamping their bodies with coloured motifs and also crown them with garlands woven from paddy. They also clean their agricultural implements and worship their cowsheds.  

The rituals of the first day, which is known as Jagoran, end with songs sung by the male members of the village. This is the Dhengwani Bhula ritual in which the entire team of cowherds (referred to as Dhangar) sings and dances throughout the night with the motive of keeping the people awake and at the same time preventing the entry of evil spirits. It is believed that evil spirits abound on the night of Amabashya (new moon) and therefore, the Dhangars moves from one end of the village keeping watch on each home.  As they sway and dance from one home to another, they sing Ohira songs in front of each cowshed and Jhumur songs along the way. The songs are accompanied by musical instruments like the madol, dhamsha (kettle drum), dhol, flute and also at times, the dhak. Sometimes they emit a special type of sound known as Kulkuli, which is a sort of long drawn out cry, accompanied by a swift tapping on their mouths with their fingers.  

The cattle too are kept awake by the constant beating of the drums and the loud Ohira songs are sung with it : Ohi rey — "Kothai achhey bhalo kochi kochi ghash rey (babu ho) Keha to charaye dhenu gai rey Agay jagabey dhenu gai rey Ahi rey — Nadir dharti dharey kochi ghash rey (babu ho)" (Where is good, tender green grass ? Some are tending the cattle, but keep the cattle awake. There is green grass beside the river).

The arrival of the Dhengwani team is welcomed by the house owner and treated with Hanrhia (rice beer) and Khapra pitha or Undhi pitha (varieties of rice cake) made earlier during the day by the women. The men are paid either in cash or kind or both for their troubles and as they leave, they warn the house owner, through their songs, to remain awake.  

Ohira songs are also sung on the 3rd day of the festival, known as Goru Khunta or Barad Bhidka. On this day, cattle are bathed, smeared with oil and vermillion and their bodies stamped with motifs of rice powder solution or colour.  A bull is brought out of each cowshed in the village and tied to a pole with a thick rope. The village youth sing Ohira songs before it, to the accompaniment of instruments. This is followed by the mock-play with or ritual teasing of the animal which, straining at its ties, tries to retaliate by butting them. At the end of the ritual, or when it tires out, it is led back to its cowshed. The band of men then approach the next bull tied to its post. 

There are also Ohira songs with Vaishnav  themes invoking Krishna and Radha, obviously the result of Shri Chaitanya’s influence in the region.