The tribal population of Bastar region is not homogeneous. These tribes are concentrated into seven isolated pockets. These seven cultural sub-regions differ amongst each other in respect of their house types, food habits, dress, beliefs, language, customs and rituals, techniques and tools.
(i) Abhujhmaria or Hill Maria Tribal Region-
This tribal region occupies the western part of Bastar region. It is remotest and the most backward cultural region. Insufficient resources and isolation from outside world have slowed down their cultural and economic development. They mostly meet their needs from local products and have very few material possessions. The word ‘Abujhmaria’ means ‘the unknown highlands’ or the less developed section of the Gonds living in the Stone Age.
These people do not know the use of plough and the cultivation of rice in lowlands. They are sticking to the poor upland soils depending only on shifting cultivation. Their needs are limited and they are averse to modern development like roads, markets and other infrastructure. But recently they are showing some inclination to accept such facilities as dispensary, poultry schemes and approach roads. In peripheral areas they are moving towards settled cultivation also.
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(ii) The Maria Tribal Region-this is the largest tribal cultural region of Bastar extending over north-east plateau and its adjoining areas. They practise subsistence agriculture and produce rice and millets. Kosra is the most important millet crop. They also gather forest produce from the surrounding forests. The Marias in central Jagadalpur and southern Kondagaon tahsils are culturally more advanced and are known as ‘Raj Maria’. Their life style is undergoing fast changes. Coming in contact with market forces the demands for cloths, utensils, ornaments etc. are increasing in these tribes.
(iii) The Bhatra Tribal Region-this region occupies the eastern part of the Indrawati plain in Jagdalpur tahsil. Good and fertile soils, nearly flat topography and easy communications have favoured the cultural advancement of the people of this region. Agriculture is the occupation of the people. Although rice is the main crop, oil-seeds, sugarcane and wheat are also cultivated. Jagdalpur at the junction of Raipur-Vishakhapatnam National Highway has played significant role in influencing the lifestyle of the people of the region. The town has potentiality to emerge as an important centre for agro-based industries.
(iv) The Dorla Tribal Region-this tribal cultural region in the Godavari-Sabari lowlands along the borders of Andhra Pradesh is culturally more advanced than the Bhatra tribal’s. The Dorlas are fond of coconut oil but do not cultivate any oil-seeds. They collect Mahua seeds from the local forests for
obtaining edible oil. If transport facilities are improved Basaguda town can be developed as an industrial focus of the region.
(v) The Dhurwa Tribal Region-this tribal cultural region covers the southern border of Jagdalpur tahsil between north-eastern plateau and the Sabari lowlands. The difficult terrain and thick forests stand in the way of internal communication and retard the economic development. The Dhurwas have been closely connected with the old ruling family in Bastar for long and are more advanced than their bison-horn Maria neighbours. They have skills in bamboo-work. This skill along with judicious exploitation of the region’s mineral potential may pave way for economic development of the region.
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(vi) The Bison-Horn Maria Tribal Region- this is one of the most backward tracts of Bastar. It incorporates Dantewara tahsil and parts of Bijaipur east and Konta north tahsils. The use of bison-horn in dancing has given special name to the tribal’s of this region. Although here tribal’s do not practice shifting cultivation but follow a system of rotation over the hill slopes and permanent cultivation on the valley floor. The construction of the railway-line between Kirandul and Vishakhapatnam and mining of the iron-ore in Bailadila are two positive steps towards the development of the region.
(vii) Unclassified Gond Tribal Region-this region lies in the Mahanadi basin in the north incorporating parts of Kan kar and B hanupratappur tahsil is. Owing to its proximity with the Chhattisgarh plain it enjoys better communication facilities. The main economic activity pursued in the region is agriculture with rice as the dominant crop. The lowland relief, good soils and easy communications have helped in the cultural and economic development of the region. The Kankar and Bhanupratappur are two nodal points, which are connected with Raipur and Jagdalpur, may play significant role in industrial development of the area.