Question

Name the Communities living in Bastar.

Answer 1

Hint: -They are one of the largest tribal groups in India .
-They mainly belong to Chhattisgarh District.
-These communities worship Goddess Danteshwari.

Complete answer: There are mainly two types of the tribal group found in Bastar Region:
(i)Gond Tribe
(ii)Halba Tribe
Gond Tribe – The term Gond is derived from a Telugu word i.e. Konda means hills. The Gond tribes are the second most famous group in India and also the largest tribe in central India. They are mainly known for their different culture and Traditions. They are a type of nomadic tribes who call themselves, koytoria. They speak in Gondi language. According to a survey, about more than 20% of the Gonds of Chhattisgarh live in Bastar area. They are further divided into sub-tribes - Maria, Muria and Dorla.
Halba Tribe: The term Halba is derived from Hal which in Hindi means ploughing. As the word self defines that they were originally practising agriculture and farming as their major occupation but nowadays, they are involved in a variety of occupations too. They are also privileged as a high local caste and that’s why they are deeply respected by other tribal groups. Just like Gond tribes, they are also famous for their uniqueness in customs and traditions. The people belonging to this tribal group mainly speak Oriya, Marathi and Chhattisgarh.

Note: -Gonds are believed to possess a special power of knowing the secrets of medicinal plants.
-The most powerful ruler of the Gond Dynasty is Bakht Buland Shah.
-The Halba Tribal Group is also referred to as Koshti, Halbi and Kosti.