"Tribal" is the word used in India to refer to inhabitants known elsewhere as "indigenous". As per the National Census, they are classified as "aboriginals" and listed according to the tribe. The Hindi word for tribal is adivasi , meaning "ancient inhabitants."

There are many types of tribals in India, and Chhattisgarh is home to many of them. In fact, the state has India's oldest tribal communities.





The main tribes in Chhattisgarh are:

Bastar - Gond, Abujmaria , Bisonhorn Maria, Muria, Halba, Bhatra, Parja, Dhurvaa

Dantewara - Muriya, Dandami Mariya or Gond, Dorla, Halba

Koriya - Kol, Gond, Bhunjia

Korba - Korwa, Gond, Rajgond, Kawar, Bhaiyana, Binjwar, Dhanwar

Bilaspur and Raipur - Parghi, Savra, Manji, Bhayna

Dhamtari - Kamar

Surguja and Jashpur - Munda





Each of these has its own rich (and distinctive) history and culture of music, dance, dress and food. What's common to all is a simple, basic, in-tune-with-nature way of life that has changed little over centuries because it works so well. Marriages tend to take place within the tribe. Both burial and cremation are used for the dead, but since cremation involves multi-day rituals, which are expensive, it is not so common. Important elders, though, are always cremated.

Tribal Villages

A visit to a tribal village for a taste of life as it once was, is a must - an overnight stay can be arranged on special request. These villages are immaculately clean, and have winding mud roads running through them. Typically, tribal houses are made entirely of mud with thatched or red tiled roofs. Each village tends to specialise in a particular kind of handicraft - pottery, bell-metal work, iron work. It is useful to take a guide who knows and respects the tribes. Just avoid going when there is a haat on nearby, as the village empties out on those days.





The tribals are a bit shy, but friendly - they are as curious about you as you are about them! They will welcome your interest, so long as you do not treat them as exotic exhibits. So, smiling, asking questions about local customs, appreciating their crafts and culture is perfectly acceptable, gawping, clicking pictures without permission and doling out money is not





Haat Bazaars

Haat is the weekly market in rural areas. It's colourful, friendly and fun! Villagers gather her to socialize over a cup of landa (rice beer), salphi ( the sap of fish-leaf sago-palm) or mahua ( the local brew, very heady ); sell their ( agricultural or forest) produce, from salt to tribal jewellery to live red ants; and buy supplies for the week ahead. Visiting a haat is highly recommended, for a memorable peek into tribal life and a glimpse of commerce at its most primary stage (you can see barter deals taking place). It might interest you to know that the raw material for many fancy products come from here (for example, Bastar sal butter is an ingredient in many international chocolate brands).





Tribal Dances

Dances are the chief amusement of the tribals. Like all folk dances, they are community affairs, characterized by robustness and earthiness. All the dances are group dances involving complex footwork, and they are wonderful to watch! The dancers are usually in a line, gyrating in a circle, always in the anti-clock direction.





The most spectacular dances are those of the Maria tribes. The men lace a strip of cloth round their torso, wear head-dresses of peacock and cock feathers, and tie bells around their wrists and ankles. Some also wear stag and bison horns on the head.





In the case of the Bison-horn Marias, the boys and girls dance in separate sub-groups, with the steps of the girls being simpler. Drum-beats are central to the dance.





In the case of the Hill-Marias, the group is often mixed, with a girl between two boys. The men wear heavy buttock-bells. Singing is important in these dances.

Both men and women wear ornaments - in fact, at celebrations, it is the men who are more gaily bedecked! Most of the ornaments are made of beads (made from bones, seeds, wood) worn as laces, ropes, fillets and collars. Earlier, iron, brass and copper wires were into armlets; today, silver and gold are used. Gold is worn mainly on the ear, nose and neck (men wear gold collars to indicate their standing in the village), not on the hands and legs. Silver is worn on the neck (as a hoop); on the wrist (as a loose, hollow, twisted tubular bracelet); on the legs (as a solid, square-bar anklet, arched below the ankle-bones). Conical twin-tops are common in the nostrils and ear lobes. Rings are worn on the helix of the ear.





Precious stones are not very popular, but when used, red and green stones are preferred, mainly because of their bright colours.





Tassels of red wool are still worn by both men and women of the Hill-Maria tribe.





You can buy tribal ornaments and combs from any of the major haat bazars as well as in the jewelry showrooms in the towns of Jagdalpur, Kanker and Kondagaon.





Cockfights

Bastar is home to the aseel cock, noted for its pugnacity, high stamina, majestic gait and dogged fighting qualities. Cockfights are a favorite sport of the tribals here. If you have the stomach for these, they are held throughout the region, on Sundays, in shady areas under the trees. They draw a large crowd, all of it male.

Festivals

The culturally rich state loves celebrating festivals where the people rejoice in the gaieties. The local tribal inhabitants love to celebrate every moment of life and thus grand festive celebrations are an everyday affair. Chhattisgarh's festive celebrations are consumed with plenty of food, drink, music, dance, mirth and merriment. The principal festivals celebrated in the different districts include: