MURIA TRIBES - GEOGRAPHY
News: The baby-father ‘cradle bond’
of the Muria tribe
What's in the news?
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Over a decade ago, Muria tribes fled the
Dandakaranya region in Chhattisgarh due to violent conflict between left-wing
extremists and the state-sponsored Salwa Judum.
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They have taken refuge in the reserved forests of
Andhra Pradesh, but primary education, safe drinking water and social welfare
benefits remain distant dreams for them.
Muria Tribe:
Location:
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An adivasi (scheduled
tribe) of the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh,
India.
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They are part of the Gondi people, and also have a
large presence in the nearby states of Maharashtra,
Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Features:
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The Muria settlements are known as habitations of Internally Displaced People (IDPs),
whose population is around 6,600 in A.P., and they here are referred to as
‘Gutti Koyas’ by the native tribes.
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They have progressive
perspective towards marriage and life as a whole.
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The biggest example being the Ghotul (a commune or dormitory), which is meant to create an
environment for Muria youth to understand their sexuality.
Economic Activity:
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They are predominantly agrarian people, and farming and other forest-based activities provide the majority of their income.
Culture:
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They have a strong cultural history and adhere to
their own customs, rituals, and practices.
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They have a unique system of social structure, and
an elder council oversees each of their
settlements.
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They are renowned for their vibrant Gaur dance, which is performed during
festivals and celebrations, as well as their musical customs and dance forms.
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They practise a hybrid of animistic and Hindu doctrines. They execute religious
rites and offerings at village shrines in order to worship a variety of gods
and spirits.
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The Muria people also have a tradition of making
and drinking “handia,” a
hand-crafted rice beer.
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They are renowned for its extensive legacy of handicrafts, which includes a range of
products manufactured from materials that are easily accessible locally, like
bamboo, fabric, and wood.
Language:
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The primary tongue is the Muria language, which belongs to the Gondi linguistic family comes under Dravidian language.
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They also speak Koya, which is a Dravidian language.
Style and Attire:
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Their fashion sense and garb are a reflection of
their voluminous cultural heritage.
● Muria men and women wear basic yet distinctive traditional clothing that symbolises their rural and agrarian way of life.