THE DRUMMER

Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, India is a land of natural resources and tribes. Historically, Bastar region is described in the Ramayana epic as Dandakaranya. In Mahabharata ,it is described as part of the Kosala empire. In the year 450 AD, Nal king Bhavdutt Varman was ruled the Bastar region.
Caught between the ethnic way of life and development, the tribal population is making every effort to protect their cultural roots. Music and Dance are two important parts of tribal culture in Bastar district. The dancers wear uniquely decorated headgears made of peacocks’ and cocks’ feather and horns of stag and bison. They use various musical instruments like Dhol, baaja etc. — a collection of drums and horns.
Wood is used as the main resources for making these drums that produces variety of sound. This tradition is inherited from the past from one generation to another generation. They first worship their drum before performing the dance. They basically dance and sing during occasions and festivals.
The tribes of Bastar are mainly Gond, Maria, Muria, Bhadra, Halba, Dhurua community, and the large population of the tribal community of Bastar still resides in dense forests. Tribal communities of Bastar are trained for their culture, art, festivals, and natural life styles and also known for their unique and distinctive tribal culture and heritage in all over the world.
Here in the picture Muria Gond tribe with their traditional wooden musical instrument is documented.