Tribes of Bastar

Gonds | Marias | Murias | Bhatras

The Prominent Tribes of Bastar

Tribal constituted 26.76% of the total tribal population of Chhattisgarh state. Some of the tribal is still living in interior forests and they do not like to come to the outer world in modern civilization and or unaware of happening in the world. In present study five predominant tribes Gonds, Halbas, Abujhmarias, Murias and Bhatras of Bastar have been considered for ethnobotanical study.

Gonds

Gonds (Koytoria), the largest tribal group in the state in terms of population. More than 20% of Gonds live in Chhattisgarh state are in Bastar district. There are three main sub castes of Gonds, Maria, Muria and Doria live in the district. The livelihood of Gonds is based on hill agriculture, collecting minor forest produce from inside the forest region, forging metal goods for cottage industries, fishing and hunting. The Gond tribals of Bastar have Ghotul system in which the unmarried young mature boys and girls live to gather in separately made huts and copulate.feugiat. Pellentesque pretium magna.

Maria

The Abujhmaria tribals live in interior forest of Narayanpur and Bastar district. The area in which they inhabited is known as Abujhmaria region which has been spread over 1500 sq. miles in dense forest area. The Abhujmarias are hill Marias, who are virtually living in isolation. They keep themselves away from the outer world and leading a savage life. Their traditional, cultural, moral values and social security has not yet been disturbed. They are one of the rare tribals group of India living in this traditional way. They practices shifting cultivation and coarse grain, banana and tobacco are generally grown by them. There is a considerable significance of weekly bazaar in this area. The Abhujmarias are still heavily depend upon hunting and collection of forest produce. There is no individual owner ship of land; all village land is owned collectively. The Abhujmaria do not plough the earth. Pointed wood pieces are used for the ploughing. Stone implements are used for harvesting produce. Marriages amongst the blood relation are common.

Muria

Muria live in Bastar district. Muria lives in plains and they are more developed than the Abujhmaria. The livelihood of the Murias is based on agriculture and collection of the forest produce. Minor forest produce is consumed as well sold by the Murias. There is no functional division of the caste in barber, cobbler, weavers and washer man. They prefer Mahua drinks rather than the medicine for their ailments. The tribals of the area are famous for their Ghotuls. (d) Halba :- The Halbas are mostly found in the Bastar district, their name is Halbas as they use hal for ploughing. They are primarily agriculturist. Halba enjoy high local caste status amongst the tribals in the state, mainly due to the fact that they are land owners. The costume, dilect and social activities of Halba make them different from Gonds.

Bhatra

The tribals Bhatra are mostly found in Bastar district, but there is no proper information regarding the origin of these tribals. The Bhatras practices shifting cultivation. They collect minor forest produce and sell it to the traders of Bastar in cheap rates in the market. The Mahua tree is used for making strong liquor and marriage ceremonies are performed by taking rounds of this tree. They begin the ceremony with hunting. Bhatras are superstitious and backward.

"It is a known fact that tribes of India are endowed with rich expressive traditions – folktales, songs, music, dance, art, designing etc. But this tradition is undergoing irrecoverable change under various pressures. It will be a great loss of cultural heritage in India."