Art & Culture of Bastar |
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Art & Culture of Bastar |
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The tribal district Bastar is full of festivals which includes harvest festivals like Navakhana ,'eating of the new crop', Mati Puja ,'Worship of the earth', Goncha,the chariot festival etc. Many of the Hindu festivals are not observed , while those that are observed are carried out differently.For example during Diwali festival in Jagdalpur in the morning following the Diwali , the bullocks are given 'Khichri' ( a food item ) and their horns are tied with a new piece of cloth which goes to the grazier.
Dusshera Chariot Procession at Jagdalpur The most important festival in Bastar is the Dusshera when all the deities from all the villages congregate at the temple of Danteshwari in Jagdalpur, the district head quarters. The Dusshera in Bastar, unlike Dusshera in other parts of India, has nothing to do with the triumphant return of Rama to Ayodhaya.Dusshera in Bastar is devoted entirely to the goddess, Danteshwari Devi. Bastar Dusshera is believed to have been started by Maharaj Purushaottam Deo, the fourth Kakatiya ruler of Bastar, in 15th century. The festival involves participation of all major tribes of Bastar.
Bastar Dusshera has several components, each of which has a history of itw own. Dusshera is observed by the Raj family with great importance for ten days, during which period the arms gifted by their family goddess are worshipped. The special feature of the festival is the formal handing over of the charge of the management of the state to the Diwan in the presence of the Zamindars, and other leading men. The ceremony is held at the Kachin Gurhi on the evening of the day Kunwar Amavasya. But before the ceremony takes place the permission of a girl who is under the influence of a spirit has to be taken. This permission is given by the girl while she swings and fights with a wooden sword in hand with another individual. For this performance a girl is selected and trained in advance. At night in Durbar the Raja takes off his dress and hands it over to his Diwan, thereby, formally making over charge of the state affairs. On the Pratipada (or the following day) the kalasthapna ceremony os performed by the chief himself in Maoli temple. The next is the day of arti and salami by the officials to the Raja who remains seated in a chariot, attired in state dress with a bow and an arrow in his hands.The ninth day after Amavasya is the day of reception by the Raja in state of the Danteshwari doli at the entrance of the town. The tenth day is the Dusshera day on which another Darbar is held when arti is done to the Raja and nasar is made to him. A custom has of late been introduced by the Raja of giving audience to the people and the state officials on this day and of hearing their grievances. The important Gond festivals observed in the district are the Nawakhana and Chaitrai in which Hindus also take part. On the Chaitrai a pig or a fowl is offered to the village god with some liquor. The Nawakhana is observed in the bright fort-night of Bhadon (September). On this day the Gonds offer new grain and liquor to their ancestors. In kondagaon tehsil of the district Budha Deo is worshipped on this day. In the Jagdalpur tehsil this festival is observed by taking sweets and giving new clothes to the members of the family. The Dhurva/Parjas tribes observed only hareli and amakhai (mango season)
Traditional Dance of Tribal Girls Country dances are the chief amusements of all the tribes of Bastar and cock-fighting is the favourite passtime in the bazars.For dances the Maria men lace a strip of cloth backwards and forwards round the upper part of the body and wear head-dresses of peacocks' and cocks' feathers. One or two bells are tied round the wirst to hang at the back, and small bells on the ankles. Stag and bison horns are also worn on the heads by some. At their dances the music is provided by drums. The village children amuse themselves with miniature bows and blunt arrows and play tip-cat, blind-man's buff, prisoner's basc and a game in which one boy represents tiger and the rest goats with a goat-herd in charge. They also play a game with tamarind seeds, guessing whether seeds consealed in the opponent's hand make an odd or even number .
Tribal Dance at Narainpur For more information about Tribes of Bastar Please refer the Tribals Page. |
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Handicrafts The tribal society of Bastar is famous for their excellency in making exotic hadicrafts with a variety of designs and shapes. These handicrafts include wood-carvings, bell -metal items , terracota items ,bamboo items etc. Bastar , being a district full of forest, containing finest quality of teak and other types of woods from which very attractive wooden- carving crafts and various types of furniture are being made by the skilled and experienced hands of the tribals.Many such items are today made and kept for sale in shops at Jagdalpur which attracts locals as well as tourists.
Wood Crafts This is one of the most famous ,beautiful and unique art of wooden carving of Bastar tribals. These wooden crafts are made out of the finest teak wood and white wood.These wooden crafts includes models , Idols , wall panels , furniture items etc. Among the furniture items Deewan( Cot with box) is very famous and attractive since it involves the art of carving with different pictures of Bastar culture and other designs of interest.These handicrafts are generally exported to different places of the country , and it has demand even from foreign countries also.
Terracota The tribals of Bastar are excellent in making handi crafts of Terracota items which is made of the finest bed clay of river Indravati.This terrakota items includes elephents,tigers , deer, horses , table lamps etc. These handicrafts are of different sizes .
Bamboo Crafts Bastar triblas specilizes in Bamboo Crafts which includes the products like wall hangings , table lamps , table mats etc .
Bell Metals The Bastar tribals are famous in making bell metal arts which are crafted by hand through the vanishing vax technique.These handicrafts include items like elephent, deer , horses etc of different sizes
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Wrought Iron It is an indegenious Bastar tribal craft made by black smiths . |
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| Cotton Fabrics Cotton Fabrics are one of the famous and attractive handicrafts made by the tribals of Bastar.These are made of Kosa thread which is made from a kind of worm found in the forest, handwoven and handprinted by tribes who trace their lineage to the 14 th centuary weaver-saint-poet Kabir. The handprinting is generally done with the natural vegetable dye extracted from aal , found in the forest of Bastar.These fabrics includes cotton saris - well-known as Bastar Kosa Sadi , dress materials and drapes. |
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