Pariksha SaathiLesson 9 of 10 · Madhya Pradesh General Knowledge
Tribes, Folk Dances, Music, Festivals and Dialects of Madhya Pradesh
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Tribes
Madhya Pradesh has the largest Scheduled Tribe population of any state: Census 2011 counted about 1.53 crore tribal people, 21.1 per cent of the state's population. The Bhils, the largest tribe of the state and of India, live mainly in the western districts of Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Barwani and Khargone. The Gonds, the second largest, live in the centre and east, in Mandla, Dindori, Seoni, Chhindwara, Betul and Shahdol; their Pardhan sub-group are bards and painters. The Korkus, a Munda-speaking tribe, live in the Satpura districts of Betul, Harda and Khandwa, and the Kols in Rewa, Satna and Sidhi.
Particularly vulnerable groups
Three of the state's tribes are listed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The Baigas of Mandla, Dindori and Balaghat practised bewar shifting cultivation and are known for their tattooing; the Baiga Chak area of Dindori is their heartland. The Bharias live in the deep Patalkot valley of Chhindwara, and the Sahariyas in the north-west, in Sheopur, Shivpuri and Guna.
Tribal art and festivals
Gond painting, with dots and lines filling figures of animals, trees and gods, became famous through Jangarh Singh Shyam, a Pardhan Gond artist from Patangarh in Dindori district who was brought to Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal; the style is often called Jangarh kalam. Pithora painting is a ritual wall painting of the Bhils and Bhilalas, full of horses and riders, made to fulfil a vow. Bhagoria is the Bhil festival of the Jhabua-Alirajpur region, held as weekly haats in the days before Holi and famous for music, dancing and the choosing of partners. The Gonds and Baigas perform the Karma dance, and the Madai fairs bring tribal communities together.
Folk dances by region
Each cultural region has its own dances. In Bundelkhand, Rai is performed by Bedni women dancers to the mridang, Badhai on happy occasions and Diwari around Deepavali, and the Alha ballad of the heroes Alha and Udal is sung in the rains. In Malwa, women perform the Matki dance with earthen pots, and Maach is the folk musical theatre of Ujjain. In Nimar, Gangaur is the main festival and dance. The Gonds dance Karma and Saila (a stick dance), the Korkus Thapti, the Sahariyas Lahangi and the Baigas Pardhoni at weddings.
Music
Gwalior is a cradle of Hindustani music. Raja Man Singh Tomar patronised Dhrupad, and the Gwalior gharana is regarded as the oldest gharana of khayal singing. Tansen, born at Behat near Gwalior and a disciple of Swami Haridas, served Raja Ramchandra of Rewa before joining Akbar's court as one of the nine gems; his tomb at Gwalior is the venue of the Tansen Samaroh held every December. Ustad Allauddin Khan made Maihar the home of the Maihar gharana; his disciples include Ravi Shankar, his son Ali Akbar Khan, his daughter Annapurna Devi, Nikhil Banerjee and Pannalal Ghosh, and he founded the Maihar band. Kumar Gandharva made Dewas his home.
Festivals and institutions
The Simhastha Kumbh is held at Ujjain on the Shipra every twelve years, when Jupiter is in Leo (Simha); it was held in 2004 and 2016. The Khajuraho Dance Festival, held each February against the backdrop of the temples, has showcased classical dance since 1975, and the Kalidas Samaroh at Ujjain celebrates Sanskrit drama and the arts. Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal, a multi-arts centre designed by Charles Correa, opened in 1982, and the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (National Museum of Mankind) in Bhopal displays the life of India's communities.
Languages and dialects
Hindi is the official language. The main regional dialects are Malvi in Malwa (Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam), Nimadi in Nimar (Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani), Bundeli in Bundelkhand (Sagar, Damoh, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur) and Bagheli in Baghelkhand (Rewa, Satna, Sidhi). Isuri, famous for his phag songs, is the best-known Bundeli folk poet. Among tribal languages, Bhili and Gondi have the most speakers, and Korku belongs to the Munda family.
Key facts
- Census 2011: MP has India's largest Scheduled Tribe population, about 1.53 crore (21.1 per cent of the state).
- Bhil: largest tribe (Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Barwani). Gond: second largest (Mandla, Dindori, Seoni, Chhindwara).
- PVTGs of MP: Baiga (Mandla, Dindori, Balaghat), Bharia (Patalkot, Chhindwara), Sahariya (Sheopur, Shivpuri, Guna).
- Gond art: Jangarh Singh Shyam of Patangarh (Dindori), the Jangarh kalam. Pithora: ritual horse paintings of the Bhils and Bhilalas.
- Bhagoria: the Bhil festival of haats held before Holi in the Jhabua-Alirajpur region.
- Dances: Rai, Badhai, Diwari (Bundelkhand); Matki (Malwa); Gangaur (Nimar); Karma, Saila (Gond); Thapti (Korku); Lahangi (Sahariya).
- Tansen: born at Behat near Gwalior, disciple of Swami Haridas, at Rewa and then Akbar's court; the Tansen Samaroh is held at Gwalior every December.
- Ustad Allauddin Khan made Maihar the home of the Maihar gharana; his disciples include Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Annapurna Devi.
- Simhastha at Ujjain every twelve years (Jupiter in Leo), held in 2004 and 2016; Khajuraho Dance Festival every February; Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, opened in 1982.
- Dialects: Malvi (Malwa), Nimadi (Nimar), Bundeli (Bundelkhand; folk poet Isuri), Bagheli (Rewa, Satna, Sidhi).
Quick revision
Largest ST population, 1.53 crore (21.1 per cent, Census 2011); Bhil largest, Gond second; PVTGs Baiga, Bharia (Patalkot), Sahariya; Gond art of Jangarh Singh Shyam, Pithora of Bhils, Bhagoria before Holi; dances Rai, Badhai (Bundelkhand), Matki (Malwa), Gangaur (Nimar), Karma, Saila (Gond); Gwalior gharana oldest khayal gharana; Tansen of Behat, Tansen Samaroh; Allauddin Khan's Maihar gharana; Simhastha at Ujjain (2004, 2016); Khajuraho Dance Festival; Bharat Bhavan 1982; Malvi, Nimadi, Bundeli, Bagheli.