|
Every area and community in Madhya Pradesh has developed its distinct style of life and lifestyle. All these make the culture of Madhya Pradesh pluralistic and vibrant. This is reflected in the different art forms and traditions, which are practiced and celebrated in Madhya Pradesh. All the tribal and non-tribal communities have their own socio-cultural space.
The tribal domain in Madhya Pradesh is huge, with several tribal groups like Bhils, Oraons, Gonds and others, coexisting with each other in harmony. The three major tribal groups here are the Gonds, who are found in central Madhya Pradesh, the Bhils, who reside in western Madhya Pradesh, and the Oraons, who are found in the eastern part of the state. Most of the Oraons have converted to Christianity. These tribal groups have their unique languages, art forms and festivities. Festivals like Bhagoriya, Madai, etc. are celebrated by the tribal groups. Dances like Sela, Kaksar, Gaur and Karma, etc are some of the dance forms enjoyed by the tribes. Without these colourful tribal art and festivities, Madhya Pradesh culture would have lost most of its charm.
The Bhagoriya festival is celebrated among the Bhils and it is a festival of fun and revelry, where the lovers are officially allowed to elope! Bhagoradev, known as the God of dance, is worshipped during this occasion, and no wonder, this festival, which is being celebrated a week before Holi, is marked by lots of ritual dancing by both men and women. Among the Gonds, Madai is the most important festival. Held on the third or fourth week of February, it is a festival of great religious significance for the Gonds. The devotees congregate in the shade of a tree and slaughter a goat to the mother goddess, amidst must singing and beating of drums. The night of Madai is full of singing and dancing and of course partaking of tribal delicacies. These festivities reflect the earthy culture of Madhya Pradesh.
Besides these two grand tribal festivities, there are many quaint fares and festivities which colour the life in Madhya Pradesh with exuberant hues. The festival of Karma is celebrated among the Korba tribes in a big way. The fair of Nagaji is a tribute to Saint Nagaji, who lived 400 years back, during the age of Akbar. It is celebrated every year in winter, in the months of November and December. Among the mainstream festivities, Deepavali, Dusshera and Holi are celebrated here with vigour. Id and Christmas too have their popularity in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Bamboo works, carpet weaving, dhurries (flat woven carpets), pottery, wood carving and textile weaving are included in the conventional art types of Madhya Pradesh. The art of painting in Madhya Pradesh dates back to pre-history. Various pre-historic paintings have been discovered in the caves here. Even today, various art forms are widely practiced by the various tribal communities here. Ujjain is the main centre for paper mache and the Nagavanshi community practices this art with verve.
To know more about Madhya Pradesh click on the following links :
| |
|
|
