| Fairs And Festivals of Bastar |
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Mati Teohar and Aamkhani (Mar- April) |
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Akteyi
( April -May) |
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Goncha ( June - July) |
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Hariali (July - August) |
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Dussehra (September - October) |
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Diwali (December - January) |
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| Reason
to Visit |
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The Tribal Culture |
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Out of the
total population of Bastar about 70% are Tribals.
The many tribes of bastar include the Gonds, the
Abhuj maria, the Bison-Horn or dandami Maria,
Dhurvas, Bhatras,Halbas and Parjas. Each tribe
has its own custom, dialect, deity and life
rhythm .You can identify distinct clothes, head-gears,ornaments,musicand
dance for each tribe.
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The Flora and Fauna:
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The nature has
endowed Bastar with abundant and wide ranging
flora and fauna. It has serene rivers, ancient
caves and magnificent waterfalls. The total forest
area is 7112 sq kms which is more than 75 % of the
total area of the division. These Forests have
trees such as teak, sal, sirsa, tamarind, amla and
mahua in addition to a plenty of medicinal plants
like anjan, amla, harra. Its home to a rich
variety of of wild-life among which are deer,
spotted deer,leopard, wild buffalo, sloth
bear,hyena,pheasant,parrots,wood pecker and the
Bastar hill myna,with its incredible ability to
imitate the human voice. |
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Major
Festivals : |
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Bastar has a
wide range of festivals meant for every occasion
and every season. The major festivals are Dusshera,
Goncha, Madai-melas, Matipuja, Amatyohar and
Navakhani.
Most of these festivals follow and celebrate the
agrarian rythm of land.Godess Danteshwari the
tutelary deity of Bastar,is the focal point.The
Bastar Dushera now fast becoming popular with both
domestic and international tourists reflects the
festive spirit of the people. |
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On one day of the festival called
Goncha people play with a blowing pipemade of
bamboo called Tupki (meaning a miniature cannon)
which has a peculiar but interesting sound.
Madai-The Madai is
usually the annual fare of village and an
occasion on which people congregate along with
their deities at a centre place from afar in
unique phenomena of cultural and economic
concosure. |
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The
Amatyohar holds its uniqueness for
preserving the mangoes till they are ripe.
People do not partake of the fruit till the
kernel-stone formation is complete and till it
has been offered to the deities.
During the Navakhani festival,
the people harvest the crop and the Nav-Anna
(new-crop) is offered to the gods. This follows
a festive season of enjoyment and merry-making.
They worship the Mother-Earth during the atipuja.
Besides, the people celebrate the Phagun Madai
and Ramaram Mela.It may be any festive occasion,
they celebrate it with dance, music and liquor.
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Dokra Art or The Bell-Metal :
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The Bell Metal
is believed to have come to Bastar through the
Ghadwa community. The Bell Metal resembles the
age old craft of the Indus Valley Civilization
found in the sites of Harrapa and Mohenjodaro.
The Bell Metal is an alloy known as the
Panchadhatu (five metals).The metals are mixed
in appropriate proportions to prepare the
images. The process of moulding this alloy is
quite intricate and even amazing. Bell metal
toys and decorative pieces from Bastar are not
only intricately designed, but also tell a
stories of their culture and lifestyle. |
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