Bastar- A New Destination for the Travelers.
It has situated in the southern part of Chattisgarh. It is predominately a forest area best home for the Marias and Murias both have extremely colourful and lively tribes who have preserved their ancient culture, and tradition.
Bastar is one of the last frontiers of tribal India. It has vast tracts of paddy fields, virgin forest, a dazzling range of flora and fauna, rivers , waterfalls and ancients caves makes Bastar a nature lover paradise and one of the finest bio diverse eco- travel holiday option of the world. Bastar is a potent combination of modernity of natural beauty and cultural diversity.
It has bordered by Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Almost 60% of land under forest covers to the northwest raises the ancient Abhujmar tribal hills are south lies the mineral rich Bailadilla Range.
Tribal people comprise almost three- fourth of Bastar’s population, each with their own indigenous culture of spirits, deities, dialects, customs and food habits. Bastar tribal groups include Gounds, such as Marias, Murias, Abhujmarias, Dhurwa and Dorla as well as non- Gound groups like the Bhatra and Halba. One can not forget to see those elegantly tribal people while making their way to the local haat (weekly market), balancing their huge loads, the women walk in a single file, basket on their heads, a children on the hip heavily tattooed old ladies, brightly dressed, young girls. It is an excellent sight.
The Abhujmarias, an important sub cast of the Gonds. They are very simple and hard working. They lived in a splendid isolation, hunting and gathering produce in the deep interiors of the forests. The gregarious Bison Horn Marias is famous for their bison horn headdress worn during dancing and rituals.
The agriculturist Maria of north Bastar are more settled and best known for their Ghotul. This is special places meant for young unmarried boys and girls to meet away from adults where they conducts their own unique system of social education which also includes music, dancing, story telling etc. The practice is a very important aspect of Muria society.
Festivals: - Bastar’s festivals are an exuberant show casting of the ancient cultural ethos of its tribal people. Mother Nature is invoked at the turn of the sessions accompanied by singing and dancing in ritual that are ancient as time.
Dusshera: - Bastar’s most important festival is not about Ram’s return to Ayodhya. The festival focus is principally on Sri Danteshwari Mai and her significance in the life of this land and its people. The tribal people worship their own Gods, Goddesses and spirits, inspired by nature in its countless forms. The festival is wonderful amalgam of local religious beliefs and tribal customs, traditionally numerous other tribal deities, many indigenous, some borrowed from Hindu pantheon congregate at her temple which is the pivotal point of the celebration.
Markets and Craft: - The beauty of the Bastar’s craft lies in the delightful fusion of the antique and the contemporary. The Harappan and Indus Valley flavour of Bastar’s handicrafts heighten their appeal amongst the Cognoscenti, Kondagaon, Narayanpur and Jagdalpur are very much famous for their terracotta, craft such as the elephant with bells and a selection of decorative pots and tabletop items, memorial stones are one of Bastar’s oldest craft. Some of the finest works of Bastar craft are showcased in some of the India’s five star hotels lobbies and up market urban stores.
How to reach in Bastar: - From south Bhadrachalam to Jagdalpur is about250 km. Vishakhapatnam, in the east is about 300 km and 300 km from Raipur in the north. The roads linking Bastar pass through forest land. Jagdalpur is districts headquarter and linked to Vishakhapatnam by a broad gauge train. Arku and Semliguda, the broad gauge stations of Indian Railways fall on this route. The nearest airports are Raipur.
