Tribal Dances at Karma Annual Festival of Harvest

For years Jay Shakuntala Welfare Foundation of Chhattisgarh (JSWFCG) has been involved with the various tribal communities of Chhattisgarh, from Bastar in the south to Surguja in the north of the state.

The institute, led by women of the area including tribal women, is attempting to rediscover & preserve the cultural, literary, ritualistic heritage of the numerous tribes of Eastern India.

Another aim of the institute is to correctly represent the tribal cultures & ceremonies without prejudice and slowly eliminate numerous misconceptions that have settled in due to misinformation that spread inadvertently by journalists and writers who happen to portray their understanding of such cultures in ways that have benefited them commercially.

The social leaders at JSWFCG work with a talented group of young tribal ladies, who bring with them hundreds of years of cultural dances through heredity, in preparations for the famous annual Karma festival that remains one of the most popular yearly events for tribal dances, tribal music & tribal celebrations in Bastar.

Karma, or Karam, is the annual tribal celebrations for a good harvest & could last several days of tribal dances, tribal music and authentic indigenous food, in various communities. Bastar is widely known for celebrating Karma more pompously than any other regions of Chhattisgarh.

These tribal girls have trained & rehearsed with the performing arts teachers of the Jay Shakuntala Welfare Foundation in preparations for the Annual Karma festival.

The voice in the video is of another talented tribal youth Sunil Manikpuri. Though Bastar remains the most popular location for these celebrations, they are seen widely across the state, this one photographed in Balrampur.