Food of Chhattisgarh

Food of Chhattisgarh

Rice is the principal crop of the area, and forms the main part of the diet of these people. Interestingly red ants, flying ants, mushrooms, squirrels, and rats are some of the other special delicacies.

Liquor, brewed from mahuwa is an important delicacy among the tribal people. They are fond of fish as well.

Pork is a major item in their diet and almost every major ceremony commences with the sacrifice of a pig

Art and Crafts of Chhattisgarh

Art and Crafts of Chhattisgarh

Crafts of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is much popular for its exclusive traditional art and crafts that make it an amazing place to find out unique artistic handicrafts and decorative items. Handicrafts of Chhattisgarh are fine example of artistic perfection of the local artisans and brilliant use of the natural resources in making of the beautiful home decor items. Tribal culture also resembles in these local art and handicrafts of Chhattisgarh. Wood carvings, bell metal (Dhokra) handicraft, terracotta figurines, tribal jewellery, paintings, clay pieces and cotton fabrics are much adorned local handicrafts of the region. These handicrafts are an integral part of culture of Chhattisgarh. Some of the popular handicrafts of Chhattisgarh are:

Bell Metal (Dhokra)

Bell metal or Dhokra work is most popular craft of the state and is usually practiced in Bastar & Raigarh districts of Chhattisgarh. Tribal artisans of the region craft bell metal handicrafts using brass and bronze with hollow casting and the lost wax technique. This art is known as ‘Dhokra Work’ and is mainly practiced by the tribes like ‘Ghadwas’ of Bastar and ‘Jharas’ of Raigarh districts. 

Traditional Ornaments (Tribal Jewellery)

Traditional ornaments of Chhattisgarh reflect tribal touch and is one of the most sought after items from this state. Well, traditional jewellery in Chhattisgarh is widely available in a variety of gold, silver, bronze and mixed metal. Along with tribal ornaments made out of beads, feathers and cowries are an integral part of tribal costumes as tribal men and women both equally tend to wear traditional ornaments.

Terracotta Figurines

Terracotta figurines also make an integral part of traditional craft of the state. Over the time, terracotta has become major part of the handicrafts produced in the state of Chhattisgarh. Craftsmen of Chhattisgarh state produce beautiful terracotta pottery representing the rituals and customs of tribals as well as symbolize their emotions perfectly in an attractive form of terracotta figurines.

Wrought Iron Work (Loha Shilp)

Wrought iron work or the loha shilp is another traditional craft form of Chhattisgarh. In this craft, wrought iron is used to create dark raw forms of the metal artifacts and figurines. Recycled scrap iron is mainly used as the raw material used for this craft of wrought iron. Some of the famous items made out of this traditional wrought iron craft include lamps, candle stands, effigies of musicians, toys, figurines, and deities etc.

Wall Paintings

Traditional art of wall paintings are also common in tribal regions of Chhattisgarh. These paintings are associated with rich culture and the rituals of the tribals. In this art from, walls and floors of the houses are painted with colors usually depicting some specific rituals of the tribes. Pithora painting is a common traditional art form originated in tribal area of the Central India. These paintings generally depicts offering to the Gods and various instances related to the rituals of the tribal communities. Well, these paintings are usually painted as ritual on various occasions including marriage, childbirth and fulfillment of any wish etc. Natural colors are used for these paintings and one can find these kinds of paintings in most of the houses in tribal dotted regions of Chhattisgarh state.

Godna

Godna is another traditional art form of Chhattisgarh mainly practiced by rural women in Jamgala village of Chhattisgarh. Mainly, women of this village paint traditional tattoo motifs (or Godna) on the textiles to give them attractive look with Godna art. Most of the art forms of Chhattisgarh are based upon natural resources and Godna art also has its connection with nature. For Godna art, natural colors are obtained from the forest and then combined with acrylic paint to enhance it stability on the fabric. Thus, ancient tribal art of Godna or tattoo has now become one of the pioneering art forms of the region.

Cotton Fabrics

Apart from all other handicrafts, cotton fabrics of Chhattisgarh are also quite famous as attractive handicrafts produced by tribals in the state of Chhattisgarh. Among these cotton fabrics, the most notable and famous one is cotton saree known as ‘Chhattisgarh Kosa Saree’. Besides, dressing materials and drapes are also in much demand. These hand-woven cotton fabrics are specially hand printed by the tribals of the region. Kosa thread is used for weaving of these fabrics and this thread is made from a specific kind of worm found in the forest of the state. Along with hand printing on these cotton fabrics is also unique as natural vegetable dye is used for hand printing. This dye is extracted from ‘Aal’ which is mainly found in the forest of Chhattisgarh.

Bamboo Work

Bamboo work is another famous craft of Chhattisgarh that showcases amazing craftsmanship of the local artisans. Tribals of Chhattisgarh generally use natural resources to produce various articles with their unique craftsmanship. Their artistic excellence can be seen in the articles they make out of bamboo for daily use and decorative purpose including baskets, fishing traps, hunting tools and agricultural implements etc.

Wood Carving

Chhattisgarh is also known for its beautiful wood carving art that has been an integral part of famous traditional crafts of this region. Craftsmen of Chhattisgarh have expertise in producing nicely carved wooden products and furniture. Different kinds of wood like shisham, sal, teak, dhudi and kikarare used for this purpose. Intricately carved wooden pipes, masks, doors, window frames, sculptures, ceilings, doors and lintels etc. are skillfully designed by these craftsmen in Chhattisgarh.

Culture of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is well known for its rich cultural heritage that reflects various aspects of this beautiful state. Cultural life of Chhattisgarh comprises varied forms of traditional art and crafts, tribal dances, folk songs, regional festivals and fairs and amusing cultural fests. Mainly, Chhattisgarh is occupied by tribal people who have preserved their rich tribal culture modestly and religiously. Eastern parts of the state of Chhattisgarh are influenced with Oriya culture. People of the state are traditional and believe in simple way of living following their traditional customs and beliefs. It can be visibly observed in their food habits, festivals and fairs, costumes, ornaments, folk dance and music as well. Chhattisgarh also hosts various cultural fests like Chakradhar Samaroh, Sirpur National Dance and Music Festival and Bastar Lokotsav etc. that showcase vibrant cultural life of the state. 

Tribal Dance in Chhattisgarh

Hinduism is the major religion in the state of Chhattisgarh. Besides, the state also has a significant population of followers of Islam and Buddhism. Apart from that tribals of the state follow their own set of beliefs and customs while many of the tribes have converted into Christians. Satnami, Kabirpanth and Ramnami Samaj etc. are other religious sects, what you can say offshoot of Hinduism . Most of the population in Chhattisgarh state communicates in Chhattisgarhi, a dialect of Hindi language. Hindi is the official language of Chhattisgarh and mostly spoken by non-rural population of the state. Earlier, Chhattisgarhi was famous as "Khaltahi" among the surrounding hill-people while Sambalpuri and Oriya speaking people generally referred it to as "Laria". Kosali, Oriya and Bhojpuri languages are also spoken by people in Chhattisgarh and Telugu is also spoken in few parts of the state.

Rivers of Chhattisgarh

The rice bowl of the nation wouldn’t be worth one measure of the millets it produce if it were not for the veins that enlivens the soils to produce more than 20,000 varieties of rice and the lush forest that comprise about 45 percent of the geography of the state. The abundance of water resource also plays a key factor in the electricity reserves of the state which is always produced in surplus enough to cater to many megawatts of electricity needs of water clogged neighboring states.

The most significant river in Chhattisgarh is Mahanadi often considered to be the lifeline of the state. It is also a major river in the east central part of India. It follows a total course of 560 miles with an estimated drainage area of 51,000 square miles. The river is presumed to originate in a non-descript region of Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh and coursing through the state of Odisha, submerging in the Bay of Bengal.

The other major rivers that have their waterways and tributaries are Godavari with its tributary Indravati River, flourishing the land of the Halbas and the Gonds, “Bastar”. The river takes its course through beautiful ravens and crevices, while plummeting into a gorge forming a mini Niagara waterfall. The view is absolutely splendid. Some of the other tributaries of other major rivers too boast of cascading glories around the state.

Sankh River that originates in Jharkhand runs a course of over 20 miles in Chhattisgarh before reverting to Jharkhand, submerging finally in the Bay of Bengal through Odisha.

River Son that originates from Madhya Pradesh veins through the state with its tributaries that span along Sarguja district and Jashpur district as well, flowing to Uttar Pradesh.

The major contributory tributaries are of Godavari and Mahanadi that irrigates the landscape and provide scope for the power reserves of the state. The surplus electricity that the state of Chhattisgarh boast of is chiefly because of the pulsating river Mahanadi which also ripples life in the southern coast of Odisha state.

The hydrography of Chhattisgarh brags of basins and fertile landscape and energy reserves for a thousand miles. The onslaught of industries adjacent to many water bodies is a cause of major concern. Although many governmental and non-governmental organization are working strenuously to conserve the same, yet the lenient policies of the government and conflicting law and order needs to be resolved.

Kanger valley

The sand mining mafia too pose serious threat to not only waning coarse of many tributaries but also the ecological factors associated with the same. Construction and illegal mining at sites nearby any water body must strictly be monitored or better prohibited.

Most of the major tributaries like theIndravati and sub tributaries of Godavariand Mahanadi are blessed with significant places of religious and ecological importance. These regions like the Kanger valley, theSirpur archeological sites, Rajim and the tribal belts from the Bastar hills towards the district of Koria and Sarguja are hotspots of eco-tourism. A fresh stream of life flushes through them which should be nurtured and cherished.

History of Chhattisgarh

The origin of Chhattisgarh dates back to thousands of years. Recently, anthropologists have uncovered evidences of some of the initial human habitations in the rocks and caves of this mythological land. Chhattisgarh has also been mentioned in the legends of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In these legends, the region was recognized as Dakshina Kosala, a place where Lord Rama spent some time of his exile period. 

Besides the anonymous past, the known history of Chhattisgarh stretches back to the 4th century AD. The kingdoms, like that of the Sarabhpurias, Panduvanshi, Somvanshi, Kalchuri, and Nagvanshi, reigned the land during the 6th-12th centuries. Earlier Known as South Kosala, Chhattisgarh came to be known as Gondwana in the medieval period. Later it became part of the realm of the Kalchuris, who dominated the region until the late-18th century AD. The Muslim raconteurs, of the 14th century AD, have explained in detail about the dynasties, which ruled over the county. 



Somewhere around the 16th century, Chhattisgarh was swayed by the Mughals and then, by the Marathas. By the year 1758, the entire region came under the territory of the Marathas, who harshly ransacked its natural resources. Actually the term 'Chhattisgarh' was popularized during the times of Marathas. In 1795, the term was utilized for the first time in an official document. In the early 19th century, the British entered and subsumed most of the territory into the Central Province. Past 1854, the British managed the region like a deputy commissionership with its control center at Raipur. 

Chhattisgarh took active part in the Revolt of 1857, when Vir Narayan Singh (a landlord of Sonakhan) stood up to challenge the biasness of the British rule. After an extended battle with the British, Vir Narain Singh was eventually hanged in the same year. In 1904, the British restructured the region, wherein the estates of Surguja were added while Sambalpur was transferred to Orissa. In 1924, the initial demand for a separate state was raised by the Raipur Congress Unit at the meeting of the Raipur District Congress. 

Without any outcome of the protest, Chhattisgarh got independence from the British like the entire country, but as the part of Madhya Pradesh. It was comprehended that the region was culturally and historically different from M.P.; it must get special recognition of its own. After independence, in 1955, the demand for a separate state recurred in the Nagpur Assembly though it didn't materialize. At last, on 1st November 2000, Chhattisgarh was constituted as the 26th state of India.

Dance & Music of Chhattisgarh

Dance & Music of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh often resounds and reverberates with the beats of the drum.

Country-dances are the chief source of amusement. Dance and music forms of this state have very close relation to its tribal heritage and culture that they are practicing from the time immemorial. Major music forms of the state are Pandwani singing, Chandeni, and Bharthari.

Some of the popular dance forms of the state are Panthi Dance, Nacha, Gond, and Muria.

Ghotul is a better-known event in tribal life and they have aroused considerable interest from anthropologists to study the tradition. Both boys and girls are allowed to spend a night out in the ghotul (kind of rest house), every week. Ghotuls are regarded as a shrine, built by Lingo Pen, a Gond (a tribe) cult hero. Here, the unmarried boys of the village learn songs and dance from their leader. Besides, every week, there is a dance carnival as well in which the girls also take part. Moreover, It is treated like a pilgrimage.

Education in Chhattisgarh

Education in Chhattisgarh 

The rate of development in the field of education is slow still the state has committed to spread the knowledge and freedom of thought among its citizens, which is reflected in its policy.

The overall literacy rate for the state as per census 2001 is 65.12%, with male literacy rate at 77.86% and female literacy rate at 55.28%. The state has been providing free and compulsory education to its children until they complete the age of fourteen years.

The state government is emphasizing more on the educational interests of the underprivileged sections, particularly, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to raise their literacy standards.

The state follows a uniform system of school education i.e. the 10+2 pattern. Schools in Chhattisgarh are either run by the state government or privately by trusts and individuals.

The higher educational status of the state is no less encouraging. The state has 8 universities, 3 medical colleges and a number of professional colleges.

Students after completion of their +2 (class XII) prepare to go for higher study. They continue their study with the subjects taken in +2 level or switch over to professional degrees like engineering, management and medical.

The state is stepping forth with focused growth on education particularly at the primary and secondary levels.