Editing Chhattisgarh (section)

== Culture ==
{{See also|List of folktales of Chhattisgarh}}

[[File:Temple Carvings in Malhar Bilaspur Chhattisgarh 2009.jpg|thumb|left|A carving in the 10th- or 11th-century Hindu temple of Malhar village. This area, 40&nbsp;km from Bilaspur, was supposedly a major Buddhist centre in ancient times.]]
[[File:Pandwani by Ritu Verma.jpg|thumb|Pandwani]]
[[File:Raut Nacha.jpg|thumb|Raut Nacha]]
[[File:Sua Nacha.jpg|thumb|Suwa Nacha at Khudmudi Village, Chhattisgarh]]
[[File:Muktibodh Rashtriya Natya Samaroh.jpg|thumb|Natya Samaroh by IPTA]]
[[File:Trombidium.jpg|thumb|Red Velvet Mite is used as medicine in traditional healing in Chhattisgarh|alt=]]

The state hosts many religious sects such as [[Satnampanth]], [[Kabirpanth]], [[Ramnami Samaj]] and others. [[Champaran, Chhattisgarh|Champaran]] is a small town with religious significance as the birthplace of the saint [[Vallabha]]charya, increasingly important as a pilgrimage site for the Gujarati community.

Chhattisgarh has a significant role in the life of the Lord [[Rama]]. Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and his younger brother [[Lakshmana]] had started his ''[[Vanvas]]'' (exile) in the Bastar, then known as Dandakarayna. They lived more than 10 of their 14 years of Vanvas in different places of Chhattisgarh. One of the remarkable places is [[Shivrinarayan]] which is nearby [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]] district of Chhattisgarh. Shivrinarayan was named after an old lady [[Shabari]]. When Ram visited Shabari she said "I do not have anything to offer other than my heart, but here are some berry fruits. May it please you, my Lord."{{quote without source|date=February 2023}} Saying so, Shabari offered the fruits she had meticulously collected to Rama. When Rama was tasting them, Lakshmana raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and therefore unworthy of eating. To this Rama said that of the many types of food he had tasted, "nothing could equal these berry fruits, offered with such devotion. You taste them, then alone will you know. Whomsoever offers a fruit, leaf, flower or some water with love, I partake it with great joy."{{quote without source|date=February 2023}}

The [[Odia culture]] is prominent in the eastern parts of Chhattisgarh bordering Odisha.

=== Literature ===
Chhattisgarh is a storehouse of literature, performing arts and crafts—all of which derives its substance and sustenance from the day-to-day life experiences of its people. Religion, mythology, social and political events, nature, and folklore are favourite motifs. Traditional crafts include painting, woodcarving, bell metal craft, bamboo ware, and tribal jewellery. Chhattisgarh has a rich literary heritage with roots that lie deep in the sociological and historical movements of the region. Its literature reflects the regional consciousness and the evolution of an identity distinct from others in Central India.

=== Crafts ===
Chhattisgarh is known for "Kosa silk" and "Dhokra or Bell metal art". Besides saris and salwar suits, the fabric is used to create lehengas, stoles, shawls and menswear including jackets, shirts, achkans and sherwanis. Works by the internationally renowned sculptor, Sushil Sakhuja's Dhokra Nandi, are available at the government's Shabari Chhattisgarh State Emporium, Raipur.

=== Dance ===
Panthi, Raut Nacha, Pandwani, Chaitra, Kaksar, Saila, Khamb-swang, Bhatra Naat, Rahas, Raai, Maao-Pata and Soowa are the several indigenous dance styles of Chhattisgarh.

Panthi, the folk dance of the Satnami community, has religious overtones. Panthi is performed on Maghi Purnima, the anniversary of the birth of [[Ghasidas|Guru Ghasidas]]. The dancers dance around a jaitkhamb set up for the occasion, to songs eulogising their spiritual head. The songs reflect a view of ''[[nirvana]]'', conveying the spirit of their guru's renunciation and the teachings of saint poets like [[Kabir]], Ramdas and Dadu. Dancers with bent torsos and swinging arms dance, carried away by their devotion. As the rhythm quickens, they perform acrobatics and form human pyramids.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panthi Dance|url=http://www.sangeetnatak.org/deshparva/desaj/panthi.htm|access-date=27 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002123235/http://www.sangeetnatak.org/deshparva/desaj/panthi.htm|archive-date=2 October 2011}}</ref>

==== Pandavani ====
[[Pandavani]] is a folk ballad form performed predominantly in Chhattisgarh. It depicts the story of the Pandavas, the leading characters in the epic Mahabharata. The artists in the Pandavani narration consist of a lead artist and some supporting singers and musicians. There are two styles of narration in Pandavani, Vedamati, and Kapalik. In the Vedamati style, the lead artist narrates in a simple manner by sitting on the floor throughout the performance. The Kaplik style is livelier, where the narrator actually enacts the scenes and characters. Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan [[Teejan Bai]] is most popular artist of Pandavani<ref>{{cite web|title=Pandawani|url=http://durg.gov.in/DistrictProfile_ArtsAndCulture.html|access-date=27 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830152418/http://durg.gov.in/DistrictProfile_ArtsAndCulture.html|archive-date=30 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Raut Nacha ====
Raut Nacha, the folk dance of cowherds, is a traditional dance of Yaduvanshis (clan of [[Yadu]]) as symbol of worship to [[Krishna]] from the 4th day of Diwali (Goverdhan Puja) till the time of Dev Uthani Ekadashi (day of awakening of the gods after a brief rest) which is the 11th day after Diwali according to the Hindu calendar. The dance closely resembles Krishna's dance with the gopis (milkmaids).<ref>{{cite web|title=Rawat Nacha Traditions|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2008/11/09/chhattisgarh-reverberates-with-rawat-nach-1226225007.html|access-date=27 July 2011|date=9 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009155057/http://news.oneindia.in/2008/11/09/chhattisgarh-reverberates-with-rawat-nach-1226225007.html|archive-date=9 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Raut nacha|url=http://durg.gov.in/DistrictProfile_ArtsAndCulture.html|access-date=27 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830152418/http://durg.gov.in/DistrictProfile_ArtsAndCulture.html|archive-date=30 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Bilaspur, the Raut Nach Mahotsav folk dance festival has been organised annually since 1978. Tens of hundreds of Rautt dancers from remote areas participate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rawat nacha mahotsva|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2008/11/09/chhattisgarh-reverberates-with-rawat-nach-1226225007.html|access-date=27 July 2011|date=9 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009155057/http://news.oneindia.in/2008/11/09/chhattisgarh-reverberates-with-rawat-nach-1226225007.html|archive-date=9 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Suwa Nacha ====
Soowa or Suwa tribal dance in Chhattisgarh is also known as Parrot Dance. It is a symbolic form of dancing related to worship. Dancers keep a parrot in a bamboo pot and form a circle around it. Then performers sing and dance, moving around it with clapping. This is one of the main dance forms of tribal women of Chhattisgarh.<ref>{{cite web|title=Suwa Dance |url=http://www.cgculture.in/CulturalProgrammePurkhautMuktangan.html |access-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318142948/http://www.cgculture.in/CulturalProgrammePurkhautMuktangan.html |archive-date=18 March 2012 }}</ref>

==== Karma ====
Tribal groups like Gonds, the Baigas and the Oraons in Chhattisgarh have the Karma dance as part of their culture. Both men and women arrange themselves in two rows and follow the rhythmic steps, directed by the singer group. The Karma tribal dance marks the end of the rainy season and the advent of spring season.{{clarify|date=July 2012}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Arts and Culture of Chhattisgarh |url=http://www.cgculture.in/CulturalProgrammePurkhautMuktangan.html |access-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318142948/http://www.cgculture.in/CulturalProgrammePurkhautMuktangan.html |archive-date=18 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Karma Tribal Dance in India|url=http://tribes-of-india.blogspot.com/2009/04/karma-tribal-dance-in-india.html|access-date=27 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831114524/http://tribes-of-india.blogspot.com/2009/04/karma-tribal-dance-in-india.html|archive-date=31 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Theatre ===
Theater is known as ''Gammat'' in Chhattisgarh. Pandavani is one of the lyrical forms of this theatre. Several acclaimed plays of [[Habib Tanvir]], such as ''[[Charandas Chor]]'', are variations of Chhattisgarhi theatre.

=== Cinema ===
[[Chhollywood]] is Chhattisgarh's film industries. Every year many Chhattisgarhi films are produced by local producers.

[[Lata Mangeshkar]] sang a song for Chhattisgarhi film [[Bhakla]] of Dhriti pati sarkar.

[[Mohammed Rafi]] sang a song for Chhattisgarhi film. He had also sung songs for various Chhattisgarhi films like Ghardwaar, [[Kahi Debe Sandesh]], Punni Ke Chanda, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patrika.com/raipur-news/raipur-first-chhattisgarhi-film-kahi-debe-sandesh-complete-50-years-1104391/|title=हिंदी खबर, Latest News in Hindi, हिंदी समाचार, ताजा खबर|website=Patrika News|date=18 September 2015 |access-date=10 August 2020|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004193202/https://www.patrika.com/raipur-news/raipur-first-chhattisgarhi-film-kahi-debe-sandesh-complete-50-years-1104391/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kosalkatha.com/manu-nayak-kahi-debe-sandesh/|title=इन्होंने तब छत्तीसगढ़ी फ़िल्म बन दी जब छत्तीसगढ़ ही नही बना था, कथा मनु नायक की।|first=Shubham|last=Thawait|date=24 January 2018|access-date=10 August 2020|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002084739/https://kosalkatha.com/manu-nayak-kahi-debe-sandesh/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Cuisine of Chhattisgarh}}Chhattisgarh is known as the rice bowl of India and has a rich tradition of food culture.
The typical Chhattisgarhi [[thali]] consists of roti, bhat, dal or kadhi, curry, chutney and bhaji. Few Chhattisgarhi dishes are Aamat, Bafauri, Bhajia, Chousela, Dubkikadhi, Farra, Khurmi, Moong Bara, Thethari, and Muthia.<ref>Oudhia, P. (1999) Chhattisgarh farmer's response on control of weeds in direct seeded rice. Agril. Sci. Digest. 19(4): 261–263.</ref><ref>Das, G.K. and Oudhia, P. (2001). Rice as the medicinal plant in Chhattisgarh (India): A survey. Agric. Sci. Digest. 21(3):204–205.</ref><ref>Oudhia, P. (2002). Rice-Acorus intercropping: A new system developed by innovative farmers of Chhattisgarh (India). International Rice Research Notes (IRRN).27(1):56.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/chhattisgarh/|title=Chhattisgarh|publisher=mapsofindia.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802034713/http://www.mapsofindia.com/chhattisgarh/|archive-date=2 August 2011|access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Farmers_groups_conserve_traditional_rice_varieties_in_Bastar_region_of_Chhattisgarh.pdf|title=Rice Bowl of India|website=India Water Portal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215101855/http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Farmers_groups_conserve_traditional_rice_varieties_in_Bastar_region_of_Chhattisgarh.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2017|access-date=29 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gktoday.in/quiz-questions/which-of-the-following-district-is-called-as-the-rice-bowl-of-andhra-pradesh/|title=Which of the following district is called as the 'Rice Bowl of Andhra Pradesh' ?|work=gktoday.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714164456/http://www.gktoday.in/quiz-questions/which-of-the-following-district-is-called-as-the-rice-bowl-of-andhra-pradesh/|archive-date=14 July 2015|access-date=14 July 2015}}</ref>

=== Festivals of Chhattisgarh ===
{{Main|Festivals of Chhattisgarh}}
Major festivals of Chhattisgarh include [[Bastar Dussehra]]/ [[Durga Puja]], [[Bastar Lokotsav]], [[Madai Festival]], [[Rajim Kumbh]] Mela, and [[Pakhanjore]] Mela ([[Nara Narayan Mela]]).