Demographics
Chhattisgarh is primarily a rural state with only 20% of population residing in urban areas. According to the report from Government of India,[6] at least 34% are Scheduled Tribes, 12% are Scheduled Castes and over 50% belong to official list of Other Backward Castes. Plain area is numerically dominated by castes such as Teli, Satnami and Kurmi; while forest area is mainly occupied by tribes such as Gond, Halba and Kamar/ Bujia and Oraon.
[edit]Language
Main article: Chhattisgarhi language
Official language of the state is Hindi and used by almost entire population of the state.Chhattisgarhi a dialect of Hindi language (or a language in its own right) is spoken and understood by the majority of people in Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarhi was also known as "Khaltahi" to surrounding Hill-people and as "Laria" to Sambalpuri and Oriya speakers. In Koria, Surajpur, Surguja and Jashpur, it appears as "Surgujia" sub-dialect. In Bastar, Gondi and other Tribal languages are spoken. Other major languages spoken in Chhattisgarh are Sambalpuri, Marathi and Oriya.
[edit]Status of women
Chhattisgarh has a high female-male sex ratio (990) compared to the rest of India, second only to that of Kerala; in rural populations the ratio is 1004.[7] Although this ratio is comparable to small areas in other states, it is unique in India for the size of Chhattisharh (the 10th-largest state in India and much larger than Tamil Nadu). Probably, such social composition also results in some customs and cultural practices that seem unique to Chhattisgarh: the regional variants are common in India's diverse cultural pattern. Rural women here, although poor, are more independent, hardy, better organized, more socially outspoken and command more power[citation needed]just like women in North-East India: so much so that they can choose and even end their marriage at will[citation needed]. Most of the old temples and 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.
Both women and men here generally marry at a young age, as is and was customary in most of India and the world before urbanized society. One study found that women aged 20 to 49 years had married at median age of 15.4 years, and 34% of girls aged 15 to 19 years are already married (according to Government).[citation needed]
There is widespread belief in witchcraft in Chhattisgarh[citation needed]. Women are believed to have access to supernatural forces, and accused of being witches (tonhi) often to settle personal scores. They are barbarically persecuted, particularly older women, widows, women with deformities or with abnormal facial features. As of 2010, they are still hounded out of villages on the basis of flimsy accusations by male village sorcerers paid to do so by villagers with personal agendas, such as property and goods acquisition.[citation needed] According to National Geographic Channel’s investigations, those accused are fortunate if they are only verbally bullied and shunned or exiled from their village. Humiliations are commonplace, such as being forced to eat human excreta and in recent years, 2,500 women accused of witchcraft were murdered by stoning, hanging and beheading by neighbours. The police and judicial authorities have done very little to protect women in this regard, and show only mild interest in bringing such persecution to an end.[citation needed]
Today, with increasing contact with mainstream India, many of the cultural concomitants of female subservience common to mainstream India have started creeping in Chhattisgarh. The gender ratio (number females per 1000 males) has been steadily declining over the century in Chhattisgarh: 1046 in year 1901, 1032 in 1941, 996 in 1981 and 990 in 2001; but is better than the ratio for India overall: 972 in 1901, 945 in 1941, 934 in 1981 and 933 in 2001. Detailed information on various aspects of women status in Chhattisgarh can be found in the linked 103 page report titled 'A situational analysis of women and girls in Chhattisgarh' prepared in 2004 by 'National Commission of Women', a statutory body belonging to government of India.
[edit]Culture
The state hosts religious sects including "Satnami Panth", Kabirpanth, Ramnami Samaj, and others. Champaran (Chhattisgarh) is a small town with religious significance as the birth place of the Saint Vallabhacharya, increasingly important as a pilgrimage site for the Gujarati community.
The Oriya culture is prominent in the eastern parts of Chhattisgarh bordering Orissa.
[edit]Crafts
Chattisgarh is known for "Kosa silk" and "lost wax art". Besides saris and salwar suits, the fabric is used to create lehengas, stoles, shawls and menswear including jackets, shirts, achkans and sherwanis.in Lost wax metal,International Sculptor Sushil Sakhuja's Dhokra Nandi is famous and available at Govt's SHABARI handicrafts emporium, Raipur.
[edit]Dance
Panthi, Raut Nacha "Karma" and Soowa dance styles are popular 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' (the awakening of the gods after a brief rest) according to the Hindu calendar. The dance closely resembles Krishna's dance with the gopis (milkmaids).
Panthi, the folk dance of the Satnami community has religious overtones. Panthi is performed on Maghi Purnima, the anniversary of the birth of Guru Ghasidas. The dancers dance around a jaitkhamb set up for the occasion, to songs eulogizing their spiritual head. The songs reflect a view of Nirvana, conveying the spirit of their guru's renunciation and the teachings of saint poets like Kabir, Ramdas and Dadu. Dancers with bent torsos and swinging arms dance, carried away by their devotion. As the rhythm quickens, they perform acrobatics and form human pyramids.
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