Living Cultures in Madhya Pradesh

The Bastar region is known for Relo songs which are popular with the Muria and Sing Maria tribes while Leha songs are popular in Jagdalpur. The dhols and mandals by the Bhils along with ghera, damahu, timki, tasa are the popular drums being played in the tribal dominated Bastar region of Madhya Pradesh.

Among the popular dance forms of Madhya Pradesh, the marriage dance of Maria Gond tribes in the Bastar region is quite notable. The traditional drum dance Mandri is what the neighboring Muria tribes are quite adept at. Phag is a sword dance while Lota where women balance full pitches of water on their heads are the popular folk dance forms of Madhya Pradesh.

Indian Classical Music has some of its best forms which originated in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Gwalior is the place where Hindustani or north Indian classical music originated with legends like Baiju Bawra and Tansen to boast of. Gwalior Gayaki, sans any ornamentation comprises of well knit compositions with intricate phrases which are rendered in different forms. Wind instruments like flute and trumpets, percussion instruments such as dholki and simple stick music are the popular forms of music that are played in Madhya Pradesh.

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