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Information on Chattisgarh

1,35,100 square kilometers.

Raipur

176.15 Lakhs.

Chattisgarhi,tribal dialects and Hindi.

Chattisgarh state is situated in Tropic of Cancer. Hence the overall climate is warm in the state. The monsoons are heavy between July and September in this region.

The people of Chattisgarh constitute a mixed urban population with people from the neighbouring states who migrated into the state in search of work. Still the majority of the people of Chattisgarh belong to tribal communities. The major tribal groups of Chattisgarh are the Gonds with the other smaller tribes like the Kanwar, Brinjhwar, Bhaina, Bhatra, Oraon, Munda, Kamar, Halba, Baiga, Sanwra, Korwa, Bharia, Nageshia, Manghwar, Kharia and Dhanwar tribes.

Though Hinduism is the main religion of Chattisgarh,the state also has a sizeable populations of Muslims and Buddhists. Many of the tribes converted to Christianity under the influence of early missionaries who worked in the area.

Chattisgarh is also known as the country's rice bowl because of its strong status in agricultural production. Chattisgarh is very rich in the mineral deposits of limestone, iron, copper, manganese, coal and bauxite. Diamonds have been found recently in Raipur district.

Chattisgarh produces 70 per cent of India's total output of tendu leaves used for making bidis. Its thick forest contributes valuable timber.

Rice is the staple diet in Chattisgarh. Pulses, cereals, vegetables, fruits and meat products supplement the basic rice-based diet. Tribals also enjoy an interesting diet consisting of delicacies as red ants, flying ants, squirrels, field rats and wild mushrooms and plants. Fish and pork are hot favourites with the tribals. The small, creamy white fruit of a local tree,the 'mahuwa' is fermented into a potent brew that is extremely popular across Chattisgarh.

Tribals of Chattisgarh love to adorn themselves with plenty of ornaments comprising of items like cowries, beads, shells, bones, feathers, mixed metals, copper and bronze. The local tribes use bamboo as utensils, water pipes, agricultural implements, fishing traps, hunting tools, bows and arrows, mats, baskets and decorative items.

Chattisgarh is a storehouse of literature, arts and crafts. Religion,mythology,social and political events, nature and folklore are favourite motifs. Traditional crafts include painting, woodcarving, bell metal craft, bamboo ware and tribal jewellery.

Traditional music and dance play an important part in the passing down from generation to generation of traditions and customs - apart from being a source of entertainment and amusement.

Local dances and dramas such as Pandavani, Panthi Dance, Nacha, Gond and Muria reflect the tribal culture and heritage. Amongst the finest performers of Pandavani meaning the oral narrative style of story telling, is the folk singer/entertainer Teejan Bai.

In ancient times the region of Chattisgarh was known as Dakshin-Kausal. Between the 6th and 12th centuries the dynasties of Sarabhpurias, Panduvanshi, Somvanshi, Kalchuri, and Nagvanshi ruled this region. After the Britishers arrived in 1854 Raipur gained prominence as compared to the then capital Ratnapur. In 1904 Sambalpur was transferred to Orissa and estates of Sarguja were transferred from Bengal to Chhattisgarh.

After the India's independence Chattisgarh became a part of state Madhya Pradesh. But on 1st November 2000,Chattisgarh came into being, as the 26th State of the Union.