Present Situation of the Muria Ghotul of Chattisgarh
The Ghotul remains an intriguing aspect of the customs, heritage & the important role it has played in the social circumstances of the Muria tribal people of Chattisgarh. The prior articles leading to this concluding piece are:
- Tribal Communities of India
- Cultural Changes in Indian Tribal Communities
- Ghotul as a Gurukul in the Muria Tribal Lifestyle
- The Ghotul Customs of the Muria Tribe of Chattisgarh
Present Situation of Ghotul & its Relevance in the Muria Tribal Cultures
A typically spacious tribal hut surrounded by earthen or wooden wall, Ghotul is an integral part of the Muria Gond tribal life in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. It plays a vital role in developing the life and culture of Muria Gond tribal groups.
Typically known as dormitory, this autonomous institution speaks a lot of the moral messages of freedom and happiness, friendliness and sympathy, hospitality and unity. The Ghotul is an institution for the Muria tribal people & is taken care of with mutual understanding among both male and female individuals.
Boys and girls at their tender age of six are eligible for membership and owning the social responsibilities of the Ghotul. Female members of the Ghotul are called as ‘Motiaris’ with a leader ‘Belosa’ and male members are called ‘Cheliks’ with a leader called ‘Siredar’.
One interesting fact lies the development concerning the women folk. Beside participating actively in decision making policies, women are taught & subsequently assigned with a lot of administrative tasks of the Ghotul.
Unlike other traditional societies, the women of Ghotul are not bound by hard and fast rules of many aspects of life. They are both taught & mentored to play roles in various aspects of pre-marital & marital lives. The institution of Ghotul also aims at teaching the skilful activities of leaf weaving, organizing festivals & ritual ceremonies, hunting and gathering, about customary laws, vegetable growing, ash cleaning and woodcarving.
At last we would consider that, under one roof in the Ghotul the youth come together to participate in traditional storytelling, dance, singing and other aspects of conjugal life. Older, much experienced members of the Ghotul hel, mentorp and guide the younger members on various aspects of behavior, livelihood & relationships. They are taught the art of practicing moderation in various aspects of daily life, including intimate relations with other members of the Ghotul.
In conclusion, while not knowing the details & how the culture works, the Ghotul might have be seen abruptly as an organization that encourages what might seem like a sexual exuberance from an external point of view. Like many foreign authors who wanted to focus on the sexual aspects that a Ghotul entertained, like researchers who found this side of the Muria lifestyle more attractive for their financial gains, there are wandering eyes of some who intend to highlight this aspect of the Ghotul alone.
However, as our research & direct conversation with the Muria tribal heads show, the elders have always taken it upon themselves to instill a strong sense of both social values & tribal heritage in the men & women members of the Ghotul. There are many guidelines that one must follow in the sacred Ghotul hut. That discipline & consistency has helped the Muria tribe sustain its heritage even to this day.
