Author: Bastariya

One can enjoy the enchanting beauty of Darbha valley on their way to sukma. Darbha Valley is a beautiful and scenic valley located in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, India. The valley is known for its lush green forests, picturesque waterfalls, diverse flora and fauna, and unique tribal culture. In this article, we will explore the Darbha Valley in more detail, highlighting its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and popular tourist attractions. The valley is located in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, which is known for its tribal communities and natural beauty. The valley is surrounded by mountains and dense forests, and the…

This is established in the office of the Anthropological Survey of India. It provides a perfect picture of the History, culture and lifestyle of various Adivasi tribes in Bastar. It houses a fine collection of numerous objects of ethnographic interest. the rare items on display at the museum throw light on the rituals and customs followed by various tribes in Bastar and highlight their style of living and religious practices. It is one of the prominent museums in Central India. The rare collections, at the museum cove various fields of Anthropology like ethnology, linguistics, archaeology and physical anthropology. Some of the rare…

Weekly haats (markets) are held almost in every big village or in a place adjoining 2-3 small villages. Locals visit these Haats for buying and selling. Barter system is prevalent in some Haats, which are still untouched by the civilization. The tribals are mostly forest dwellers and live in harmony with their natural surroundings Their life is dependent on forest procedure. Each tribe has its own customs and traditions which are separate from other tribals. One can taste local snacks. Local snacks. Local liquor made from dried Mahua flowers is available in plenty in these Haats, In these Haats, the…

The spiritual draw of being blessed by the Kuldevi of Bastar is hard to resist for culture aficionados as well as religious travellers to Dantewada. Age-old forests, bountiful rivers and exotic vistas complement the town’s divine hook, as if culminating to offer an ode to Goddess Danteshwari. Unfortunately, Dantewada is a name that today conjures up images of ambush by Naxal insurgents. When you visit, though, the town elicits a sense of peace, thanks to its almost ethereal setting amidst perennial streams, natural beauty and the ancient Danteshwari Temple that was established by Maharaja Rudra pratap Dev, a Kakatiya King from Warangal, There…

The Gonds, recognised as Koytorias / Kotoriya tribes mainly predominate the dense forests of Bastar. Some Say, they are the oldest tribes of the planet. The Gonds of Bastar are one of the most famous tribes in India, Known for their unique Ghotul system of marriages. The Ghotul system is mainly practiced among Muria Gonds and the origin of the system is related with their Goddess Lingopan. According to Gond legend, Lingo, the Supreme Deity created the first Ghotul. Gonds are the largest tribal people of central India in terms of population. The etymological name comes from the Telugu term “Kond”, meaning…

Though weathered, and in places ravaged over the centuries, Barsur allows for a peek into a few glorious vestiges of the former capital of Bastar. of the successions of kingdoms and empires that dominated the region, this temple town is most influenced by the rich legacy of the Nagvanshi dynasty, under whom a few important structures were constructed here. Barsur is a rare remnant of the erstwhile stronghold of the Nagavanshi who held sway over the region as early as AD 840. The small town is situated on the banks of the Indravati River and legends boast that it once had…

Bastar is a tribal territory. It has the largest strength of tribes (adivasi/ indigenous) found anywhere in the country. Bastar has, in fact, the oldest and densest tribal habitation in India, almost untouched for thousands of years. In tribes woman play an important rule. Their attire is also very different and colourful. They love wearing Jewellery made of beads and metals. The tribes in Bastar are known for its unique, distinctive tribal culture and traditional living style. They live in their own world. They are truthful and honest with smiling faces. Various forms of tattoos, hairstyles, embroidery and costumes are a…

This is celebrated by all the farmers of Chhattisgarh, including farmers of bastar area, in the month of Shravan. The farmers worship their agricultural equipments and cows. This is delivered from the Hindi word Haryali. They place branches and trees of the Bhelwa tree in their fields and pray for a good crop. They also hang neem branches at the main entrance of their homes to keep seasonal disease at bay. For the next 15 days, Baigas (the traditional medical practitioners), teach their disciples. This goes on till Panchami, the day following Ganesh Chaturthi. On this day, they take examination/test…

This festival is known as Amus Tihar in Bastar. It is celebrated on a dark night of July (Shravan month). It is an agricultural festival. People start sowing the seeds from this day. This ritual is called Beej. People worship their family God and Goddess that day and seek blessings for good agricultural production. This festival is important, as from this day making of the chariot starts for the Dussehra festival. For this purpose, special offering and worship is done including sacrifice of he-goat and Mangur fish.

The festival is completely segregated from harvest of crop. The people eagerly and patiently wait for the auspicious day, when sal trees are covered In flourishing blossoms. To pay tribute, to the Goddess, the villagers stay away from their fields and fervently pray in their forests near to their villages and hamlets, No farming related activities are conducted on that day.

This is celebrated in central Bastar and Beeja pandum in south Bastar. This is a very important tribal ritual held, annually. This is a beautifully celebrated Pastoral fair. The tribal people are deeply religious and superstitious. They believe in worshipping  Mother Earth. They fear that on angering Mother Earth( Which is the source of their income ), draught and famines would strike. Cracks and fissures would emerge on the fertile plains, which would resemble the hide of a leopard. Therefore, people worship the mother Earth on this occasion for ample yield of crop. One of the central rituals is that,…

The Goncha festival is Rath yatra (chariot) festival of lord jagannath similar to puri rath Yatra. The word Goncha is derived from word Gundicha yatra in puri. The festival is celebrated in Ashadh Shukla Dwitiya (second day on the bright full moon fortnight of ashadh month). Three different chariots are made for lord jagannath, ord BalaBhdra and their sister Goddess Subhadra. Some Say, in the past, these chariots were the second largest chariots of lord jagannath, in the world after puri. The chariots are made by different tribal communities. It also showcases the inimitable tribal culture and the enjoyment by…