Festivals of Gond Tribe

The Gonds are a tribal community mostly living in the Gond Forests of Central India, and observe festivals throughout  the year.

At the time of gathering the crops the Gonds arrange for a village-wide feast with the sacrifice of pigs, fowls and consume large quantities of drinks --  liquors made from Mahua flowers and rice. They worship their favorite deities, including Ghashyam Deo and Danteshwari Goddess.

The tribe also observes what can be termed as an "educational festival" at their Ghotuls. Humor and good food are blended to eliminate the jealousy and bickering that might arise at the co-educational institutions. Consumption of liquor is quite common.

Some Gonds observe Hindu customs and festivals wherever they are influenced by Hindu traditions. For example, the festival of Dasara (a.k.a. Dussehra) is observed by Raj-Gonds, just like the influencing Rajputs do.

See Also:

• Jagadalpur Dasara I
• In Gond Territory -- Conversation with a Gond elder providing insights into the lifestyle of a large tribal community of India.
• Bangles of the Gonda Tribe -- Different types of bangles worn by the Gonds of Central India; includes pictures.