Why in the News?
The Bison Horn Maria dance of the Dandami Madia tribe was highlighted during recent village festivals in Jagdalpur, Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, showcasing the living tribal cultural heritage of central India.
Dandami Madia Tribe
• Also known as Maria
• Sub group of the Gond tribe
• Inhabits Bastar region of southern Chhattisgarh
• Major areas: Darbha, Tokapal, Lohandiguda and Dantewada
• Traditionally forest dependent community
• Livelihood, rituals and beliefs closely linked to nature
• Cultural roots trace back to the historic Gondwana region
Bison Horn Maria Dance
• One of the most distinctive tribal dances of India
• Performed by both men and women
• Symbolises hunting traditions, village rituals and harmony with nature
• Men wear horn shaped headgear made of bamboo decorated with bison horns, feathers, shells and coloured cloth
• Bead necklaces and brass anklets are integral to male attire
• Women wear handwoven saris, heavy silver and brass ornaments
• Jewellery often includes rupee coins ranging from ₹1 to ₹10
• Musical instruments include drums and bamboo flutes
Prelims Pointers
• Dandami Madia are part of the Gond tribal group
• Bastar region is a major hub of tribal art, dance and ritual traditions
• Bison Horn Maria dance is both a ritualistic and cultural performance
• Reflects India’s intangible cultural heritage preserved through oral tradition and practice
| Consider the following pairs: Tribe → State (2013)
(1). Limboo (Limbu) : Sikkim (2). Karbi : Himachal Pradesh (3). Dongaria Kondh : Odisha (4). Bonda : Tamil Nadu Which of the above pairs are correctly matched? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
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