About Chhattisgarh Culture

Culture of Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh many religious sects like Satnami Panth, Kabirpanth, Ramnami Samaj, and others are operating. Champaran town of this state has religious importance as it is the birth place of the Saint Vallabhacharya. Champaran is observed as a big holy place for Gujarati community. People from all of Gujarat, Mumbai etc. come to visit this place. The Oriya culture is prominent in the eastern parts of Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh has a very rich Cultural tradition. People of this state have its unique style of dance, cuisine, and music. Tourists can find decorative pieces carved on wood, Bamboo furniture, Clay pieces, idols carved on wood etc. Panthi, Raut Nacha "Karma" and Soowa dance styles are very trendy in the region. Raut Nacha, the folk dance of cowherds, is a traditional folk dance of yadavs/yaduvanshis as symbol of worship to Krishna at the time of 'dev udhni ekadashi' (awakening of Gods after brief rest) according to the Hindu calendar. Pandavani a musical recitation of the epic Mahabharata, Teejan Bai, the Pandavani artist was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2003, for her contribution to Pandavani. Chhattisgarh has rich traditional folk songs which include sohar, bihav & Pathoni songs. Sohar songs are sung in the occasion of child birth. Bihav songs are related to marriage celebration. The main parts of Bihav songs are Chulmati, Telmati, Maymouri, Nahdouri, Parghani, Bhadoni and other songs related to Bhanver, Vidai songs. Pathoni songs are related to Gouna that is departure of bride to bridegroom home.

The women of Chhattisgarh have a good position within India. The proportion of women in the population is second highest among states in India. Further, the female-male ratio is in support of women in rural population. This State has 9th rank in largest state in India. In village society, classical doctrines of Hinduism is dominant probably because more than 95% of residents of Chhattisgarh are either not part of Hindu society or are included as low caste within Hindu caste hierarchy because of their industry related job occupations. Rural women are not wealthy but they are more independent, hard working, and socially more enthusiastic and command more power just like women in North-East India. Most of the old temples/shrines here are related to 'women power' (e.g., Shabari, Mahamaya, Danteshwari) and existence of these temples gives insight into historical and current social fabric of this state. There is general social belief in witchcraft in Chhattisgarh; which is similar to such belief in other parts of the world. Women are supposed to have access to supernatural forces, and accused of witchcraft and called 'Tonhi' often to settle personal scores. They are barbarically mistreated. It is mainly due to the existence of backwardness of the society in Chhattisgarh. Currently, Chhattisgarh is one of the richest states that have surplus power. This is an added advantage for industrialists making project and investments decisions.