Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

“Tribal” is a word in India to refer to people known elsewhere as “natives”.

British ethnographers labeled the tribe as “animists.”

According to the national census, they are classified as “native” and are listed by tribe. 

The Hindi word for “tribe” is Adivasi, which means “ancient inhabitants.

” India’s “rice bowl”, Chhattisgarh is famous for its breathtaking natural splendor, colorful culture, mineral and energy treasures and grand steel mills.

Chhattisgarh’s population is mostly tribal-dominated. 

 The oldest and most numerous tribes of Chhattisgarh are the Gonds. 

In Chhattisgarh, the system of the “fifth schedule” is applied to the territory of the Bahul tribe.

The total number of special backward tribes declared by the central government in Chhattisgarh is five.

The names of the five special backward tribes of Chhattisgarh are “Abujmadia”, “Baiga”, “Qamar”, “Pahari Korwa” and “Birkhor”.

The total number of special backward tribes declared by the state government in Chhattisgarh is two.

The name of 2 Special Backward Tribes declared by Chhattisgarh State are- ‘Bhujia’ and ‘Pando’.  

tribes of Chhattisgarh
tribes of Chhattisgarh

 

 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.

However, important elders are always cremated.  

 

 The main tribes of  Chhattisgarh are

 

 Gond Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

Gond Tribes
Gond Tribes

 The etymological meaning of the term Gond comes from the Telegu meaning “Kond” meaning hill. 

The Bastar tribe of Gonds is one of the most famous tribes in India known for their exclusive Gotul marriage system.

They mostly marry within the family in order to observe traditional Hindu customs and maintain normal fulfillment of marriage vows within the family. 

Gond society is more or less matrilineal, with the groom paying a substantial dowry outside of the bride’s family.

The tribe, also known as the Kyotori, is widely dispersed throughout Chhattisgarh. 

Most of the tribal areas in Chhattisgarh are of the ‘Gond’ race.

Narayanpur district is the district with the highest tribal percentage in Chhattisgarh.

Location

Bastar, Raipur, Durg

The state of Chhattisgarh has the fourth place among the states with the maximum number of tribes in India.

Raipur district is the district with the lowest tribal percentage in Chhattisgarh.

The place of worship of the tribes, where the deity is situated, is called ‘Sarna’.

In the tribal society of Chhattisgarh, abandoning one husband and keeping another husband is called ‘Thukupratha’.

‘Budhadev’ is considered to be the most important deity of the tribals.

Gundadhur’s tribal ‘hero’ is known as the miracle man in the tribal group.

In other tribes, marriage with a widowed woman at low expense – ‘Ar-Uto Vivah’ is prevalent.

Agriculture-related ‘Dhersa festival’ is prominent among the tribes.

The popular shifting agriculture or jhum agriculture (Slash and Burn Farming) of the tribes is called – ‘Bevar or Penda Krishi / Panda Krishi’.

‘Gaur dance’ or ‘Dandami Madiya dance’ is famous in the Dandami Madiya tribe of Chhattisgarh.

The Gond tribe mainly belongs to the Dravidian language family.

‘Lamsena marriage’ is prevalent in the Gond tribe.

The practice of ‘returning milk’ is prevalent in the Gond tribe.

The Gond tribe knows itself as ‘Koytor’ or ‘Koya’.

The book ‘The Murias and their Ghotul’ was written by ‘Berrier Elwin’ and published in London in 1947 by Oxford University Press, London.

The main work of ‘Dhotyal Gond’ in Chhattisgarh is to make baskets.

Service-marriage practice is prevalent in the Gond tribe.

 

Abhuj Maria Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

Abhuj Maria tribe
Abhuj Maria tribe

 The Abhuj Maria tribe is very, very afraid of humans.

But They are a primitive race with quite ferocious manners.

They are wild and savage tribesmen, hostile to strangers, and sometimes even shoot arrows directly.

However, rarely clean themselves or their clothes.

Even for drinking water, we do not use the common human custom of using a bowl or container.

Instead, they clone animals to drink water directly from ponds.

This is one of the gond tribal group’s featured podcasts.

They live in the enclave of Bastar’s Narayanpur.

Money and material pleasures rarely attract representatives of this class.

CG Most of the ‘Abujhmadia tribe’ is found in the Narayanpur district.

During the traditional dance by the Madia tribe, they wear a ‘cap made of the horn of a wild buffalo’.

CG The Madiya tribe of India uses the Mrityuk Stambh (Mrityu Smriti Stambh). In the local language it is called ‘Gudi’.

Mudia-Madia tribes are considered proficient in ‘digging work’ of wood.

A drink called ‘Sulfi’ is very popular among the Madiya tribe.

The practice of ‘Ghotul culture’ is believed to be in the Muria tribe.

The famous folk drama ‘Maopata’ is prevalent in the Muria tribe.

The meeting place of men and women of the

Madia tribe is called ‘Sihari hut’.

The shifting cultivation practiced by the Hill Madiya tribe is called ‘Pedda’.

The Karsad dance, popular among the Abujhmadia tribe, is accompanied by the playing of a special trumpet called ‘Akum’.

Bison horn maria Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

Bison horn maria

 One of the famous tribal groups.

It is mainly concentrated in the Bastar area.

The ethnic community’s main podcast was called Gond.

They are mainly present in the Garhicholi district of Maharashtra and some parts of MP. 

This tribal community in Chhattisgarh gets its name from its distinctive custom of wearing a distinctive headdress resembling the horns of a wild buffalo.

They usually wear this headdress at wedding balls or other ceremonies. 

The main language spoken by this Chhattisgarh tribe is Dandami Maria. 

Bison Horn Marias worship spirits and non-human objects.

Their religious beliefs are a combination of Hindu and animistic beliefs.

They worship other gods.

These clan deities are placed on the borders of each village to protect it from the outside world and black magic. 

Bison Horn Maria males have distinct long ponytails.

There are also snuff boxes and special combs.

This crest is attached to a loincloth. 

Bison Horn women usually wear white skirts.

They even use various trinkets for decoration.

The bison horn headdress they wear is made from cow horns due to the current shortage of bison horns. 

muria tribes

 The famous Gond Podcast.

The Muria are more developed and broad-minded and live outdoors among the vast rolling plains and valleys.

Muria’s economy is primarily agricultural.

They grow rice in abundance.

Some Muria tribes also depend on gathering forest products.

For ailments and ailments, they seek out the medicinal properties of the mahua plant.

The tribe is a very superstitious people who believe in worshiping cult gods and goddesses.

There is no caste system in Muria society and people also use witchcraft, black magic, and sorcery.

The Muriya tribe lives in the dense forest area of ​​Kondagon Tehsil and Narayanpur Tehsil Bastar. 

Real song is a famous song by the Muria tribe.

‘The Muria Gond of Bastar’ book ‘W. V. Griryasan’ and was published in 1938.

The boys and girls of the youth of the Muria tribe are called ‘Chelik’ and ‘Motiyari’.

‘Bhageli Vivah’ is prevalent in the Madiya tribe of Chhattisgarh.

 

 Halva Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

 

 The manners and lifestyle of the Bastar-resident Halbas are very reminiscent of those of their brothers living in the Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. The Halba tribe applied their terminology to the term “hal”, which locally means plowing or farming. It is widespread in Chattisgarh, MP, Odisha, and Maharashtra. In Chattisgarh, they reside in Bastar, Raipur and Durga. They also enjoy the privileged status of the local top caste and are therefore deeply respected in tribal society. The unique identity of the Halbas is evident in their dress, dialect, and traditional customs. 

The economically developed tribe in Chhattisgarh is the ‘Halba’ tribe (Halba CG Tribal).

The traditional practice of getting a bride by giving money is called ‘Paring Dhan’.

The residence area of the Halba tribe is Durg, Raipur, and Bastar.

People of the Halba tribe consider themselves to be born by ‘Mahadev and Parvati’.

CG The ‘Kabir Panth’ has been mostly adopted by the Halba tribe.

Totemism is prevalent in the Halba tribe is called ‘Barg / Bargi’.

The tribe that believes in untouchability is the ‘Halba tribe’.

During the British period, the official language of Bastar state of Chhattisgarh was the ‘Halbi’ language.

Nagbansi Balba is a special branch of Halba tribe, which is limited in Dantewada and Narayanpur.

Dhruvas

 The most notable Aboriginal tribe residing in monasteries in the Bastar region.

On the social ladder, the Dhruvas are second only to the elite Bhatra tribe.

Their society is progressive and broad-minded, and polygamy is a common and accepted practice.

A woman who is in charge of all household chores is highly respected and therefore very arrogant.

Males are generally lazy and have little interest in household chores, except for  routine farming and hunting.

The Durvas depend on agriculture for their economic livelihood.

The tribal people are also gifted artisans, whose expertise is evident in the elaborate handicrafts  of walking sticks and other products of the forest.

They are very religious and devout and worship several local cult gods and goddesses.

Joy and joy are a prominent part of any festival and no religious ceremony is complete without animal sacrifices and coconuts are also offered to appease the gods. 

Parab dance is called the traditional military folk dance of the Dhurva tribe.

 

 

 Other important tribes in Chattisgarh include

 

 Kol

Common name for Munda, Oraon, and Hoadivasi in Bihar, Chattisgarh, MP, Tripura, Assam, Nepal, and Bangladesh. 

The Kol tribe is found in Koriya district in Chhattisgarh.

Kol Dahka dances or Kolhai Nach are prevalent among the Kol tribe in Surguja and Korea districts.

Korba

One of India’s famous ST. They live in forests and hills. 

tribals of cg

 

 Kawar/Kamar

Widespread in Raipur, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Durga, and Sarguja. 

In Chhattisgarh, the Kamar tribe mainly resides in Bindranwagarh, Manipur, and Fingeshwar.

The Kamar tribe considers their ancestors as ‘Kauravas’ and consider military service as an ‘ancestral occupation’.

The hair of the head of the body is considered sacred in the Kamar tribe.

In the Kamar tribe, ‘Kurha’ is called the main person.

CG The great social worker Gahira Guru belonged to the Kanwar tribe.

 

  Binjwar

A community of deputies centered around the Chattisgarh region.

Two intermarriage subdivisions, Sonvakha-Bijwar and Binjwar proper, were  in the districts of Biraspur, Raipur, Raigar, and Sarguja in large numbers. 

 Bhatras

Among the tribes of Chhattisgarh, ‘Bhatras’ holds the highest (high) position socially.

Bharia

‘Bindri’, ‘Nawakhai’, and ‘Jawanra’ festivals, etc. take place in the ‘Bharia tribe’.

Most of the people have accepted ‘Christianity’ from the ‘Uraon tribe’ of the tribal class.

‘Mangani Vivah’, ‘Raji Baji Vivah’ is prevalent in Bharia tribe.

‘Bharnoti’ or ‘Bhariyati Boli’ is the original dialect of the Bharia tribe.

Korvas or Pahadi Korvas

tribes in Chhattisgarh

CG Mainly ‘Korwa tribe’ resides in Raigad, Jashpur, Surguja district.

The dance of the Korva tribe of Chhattisgarh is ‘frightening’.

The popular drink of the Korwa tribe is ‘Handiya Madira’.

CG Hatha’s marriage of the Korwa tribe is called ‘Thuku marriage’.

The panchayat of the people of the Korva tribe is called ‘Mayari’.

In the Korwa tribe, ‘Dihari Korwa’ is not included in the backward tribes (CG Tribal List).

‘Sarhul dance’ is performed by the Oraon tribe on the full moon day of Chaitra month.

Kora festival, which is celebrated by the Korwa tribe on the harvesting of Kutki and Gondli crops.

Dhersa festival, which is celebrated by the Korwa tribe after harvesting mustard and pulses.

They depend upon Government Schemes.

Children suffer from malnutrition.

People are addicted to alcohol

 

Nagesia

In Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh, Surguja, and jaspur districts mainly people of the ‘Nagesia’ tribe reside.

Tribes influenced by ‘Sahni Guru’ and ‘Gahira Guru’ – people of the Nagesia tribe are considered.

 

Agaria

‘Urad Dal’ has special importance among the people of Agaria tribal species.

Baiga

The Baiga tribe worships the ‘Sal tree’. Sal tree is considered to be worshipable.

CG Baiga tribe mainly resides in Surguja, Bilaspur and Rajnandgaon.

The marriage prevalent in the Baiga tribe is called ‘Paitul’. It is called ‘Paidhu’ in Baiga tribe and ‘Dhuku’ in Agaria tribe.

Tattoo art is popular in the Baiga tribe.

CG The Baiga tribe mainly celebrates ‘The Rasnava festival’.

The main ‘Parghoni / Parghoni dance’ is prevalent in the Baiga tribe.

Who is part of the procession on the occasion of marriage

The main ‘Parghoni / Parghoni dance’ is prevalent in the tribe. On the occasion of marriage, at the time of receiving the procession, dance is done by making an elephant in the courtyard.

The meeting song of the Baiga tribe is called ‘Dussehra or Bilma Geet’.

The sub-castes of the Khairwar tribe are named after animals and plants.

In the Baiga tribe ‘Thakur Dev’ is considered the main deity.

Bhujia

CG The Bhujia tribe mainly resides in Raipur/Gariaband district.

Bhujia tribe is a Dravidian tribe, it has two sub-castes – ‘Chhida Bhujia’ and ‘Chaukhatiya Bhujia’.

Bhatra

The area of residence of the Bhatra tribe is considered to be Bastar district, bordering the Orissa province.

Binjhwar

The residence area of the Binjhwar tribe is in Bilaspur and Baloda Bazar. There is description with many kings and their mention is found in legends.

Arrow is considered to be the symbol of Binjhwar tribe. Teer marriage is in vogue

Oraon

The youth home of the Oraon tribe is called ‘Dhumkuria’. Whose adult members are called ‘Dhangar’.

‘Kurukh’ or ‘Kudukh’ language is the main language of the Oraon tribe.

The Deccan region is believed to be the origin of the Oraon tribe.

The traditional dress of the Oraon tribe is called ‘Kareya’.

CG The people of Oraon tribe name their children after animals, birds and trees.

The people of Oraon tribe consider themselves as descendants of Kauravas.

The Sarhul folk dance is performed by the Oraon tribe near the Sal tree.

The Korku tribe is derived from the Dravidian language word Korak, which means ‘shore’. Those who live on the banks of ‘Narmada’ and ‘Tapti River’.

The name of the sub-caste of Oraon tribe is ‘Dhanka’.

Korku Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

The ‘Khambh Swang’ practice is famous in the Korku tribe.

The Korku tribe is called ‘Arandha’.

In Navadhani Korku tribe, the death ceremony is called.

The chief deity of Korku tribe is ‘Singri Dev’.

They mostly live in Balarampur.

Dhanwar

Bilaspur district is considered to be the residence of the Dhanwar tribe.

Also known as Dhanuvar in Madhya Pradesh, which signifies bow and arrow

Manjhwar

The Manjhwar tribe mainly resides in the Katghora region.

Pardhan Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

The people of the Pardhan tribe are called ‘Pataria’.

Bhaina Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

The Bhaina tribe is found in Bilaspur and Janjgir-Champa districts.

‘Bar Naach’, ‘Bar Festival’, and ‘Bar Dance’ are prevalent in the Kanwar tribe.

Karma dance is the most famous folk dance of the tribes.

Saunta Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

The Saunta tribe is found in the Katghora tehsil of the Korba district.

The shifting agriculture of the Kamar tribe is called ‘Dahi’ or ‘Dahiya’ in the local language.

‘Akhet’ is the traditional source of livelihood of the Pardhi tribe.

Agahiya tribe

The business/work of iron smelting is the ‘Agahiya tribe’. It is considered to be the lineage of small Dravidian caste and Gond tribe.

Kharia

‘Banda’ is the main deity of the Kharia tribe (CG Tribal God).

They are mainly in Jaspur.

Birhor Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

The ‘Birhor’ tribe is mainly found in the Raigarh and jaspur districts of Chhattisgarh.

The main tribal deity of Kondagaon is considered to be the ‘Dabagolin’ Devi.

Parja

The ‘Parja‘ tribe is known by the name Kodhurva.

The people of the Parja tribe dance by making postures of animals and birds.

The name of the special tribe of Bastar district is ‘Parja‘.

The Aamakhayi festival is especially popular in Dhurwa and Parja tribes in the Bastar division.

Ghotul

Mandri dance is performed by the Ghotul tribe.

Pandhi

The Pandhi tribe is found in Surguja, Surajpur, Balrampur, and Bilaspur.

Munda tribe

The residence of the Munda tribe is a lesser area till Jagdalpur tehsil of Bastar.

The traditional singers of the Bastar dynasty are the Munda tribe.

They are in Surguja distri

Korwa

Kora festival is celebrated by the Korwa tribe on the harvesting of Kutki and Gondli crops.

Dhersa festival is also celebrated by the Korwa tribe after harvesting mustard and pulses.

Khadiya

The Khadiya tribe was mainly carrying the executive.

They are in Koriya and Surajpur.

Koya Tribes in Chhattisgarh 

The Koya tribe resides in the Godavari region of Bastar.

The Koya tribe itself is also as Dorla or Koytur.

Bhatra

Kakatiya Naresh of Bhatra tribe along with Annadev considers Bastar expansion from Warangal.

Pali ‘Parab Parv’ is especially popular in Halba and Bhatra species.

Khairwar

The Khairwar tribe is the main tribe doing the business of Katha.

‘Dharti Mor Paran’ is the work of Gendram Sagar tribal craftsman.

‘Lingopen’ is the founder and main deity (CG Tribal God) of Ghotul Yuvagriha.

Asur tribe

Binjhiya

Bhunjia

Pardhi 

They mostly live in Balarampur and Sukma.

It is also known as behilya and shikari.

Khariya 

Ganda or Gadwa 

Biyar 

Namosudra 

Bhil

Bhilmeena

Kandra tribe

Kolam

They live in Koriya district.

Sota tribe

Bhina tribe

Pando

They are mainly in Koriya district.

Sor tribe

Only 17 people live in this tribe.

 

Which is the largest tribe in Chhattisgarh?

Gond Tribe

Which is the smallest tribe in Chhattisgarh?

Sor Tribe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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