Maoist insurgency and related violence in Southern parts of Chhattisgarh is making waves throughout the globe, but Bastar native tribal people, keeping the fear at bay, are hardly losing any occasion to enjoy their traditional way of entertainment and colourful life.
And this is the reason, young tribal couples are spending time in traditional ‘Ghotul’ to share the happiest moments with each other and in the process also beat the heat of the summer.
Notably, after the kharif harvesting in December-January and ahead of the ommencement of fresh kharif season, there is time for fairs.
Madais held in rural areas, out of which Bastar has its fair share of Murga Bazaars, held almost in all villages, of which ‘Khirkhiri’ a betting machine is main feature and a centre of attraction as around these betting machines kids as young as 8-9 years to old aged people don’t forget to test their fate spending thousands of rupees of their hard earned money.
Then, there is juice of ‘Sulfi’ and ‘landa’, a type of alcoholic drink, taking over hearts of Tribal youth and freeing them to enjoy the life amid raging insurgency.
Even in Abujhmar area, the Red rebels bastion, scene is not different as hundreds of young couple engaged in traditional dance, sports and other entertainment activities.