Ghotul Tribals of Chattisgarh

Ghutul Dance Form

Muria Gond Tribe - Narayanpur tribal market – ‘Kanker District’

The dress of Maria women consists of a white skirt with the upper portion of the body being left bare; and the men wear loin cloths and turbans which are often adorned with long strings of beads wound several times around combs. At the weekly market on Sunday in Narayanpur near Jagdalpur you will discover some of Bastar's finest handicrafts and enjoy the opportunity to mingle with these tribal people.
GOTUL or Ghotul

Young boys and girls of Muria tribe, belonging to Bastar District Chattisgarh, use combs as a decorative item on their hairs. These carved combs are symbolic of the love and admiration that they receive.
On attaining adolescence, the girls and boys become the members of a dormitory called Ghotul. In this dormitory boys gift specially carved combs to the girls of their choice. These combs are carved by the boys themselves. The combs worn by the boys are bigger and more detailed in their carving and style. These combs are never exchanged.

A young woman wears all the combs that she received from her admirers and lovers in Ghotul. It is mandatory for the woman to remove the combs gradually after her marriage and return these combs to her former lovers and admirers. But she must not remove the combs given to her by her husband.
The motifs used on the doors, pillars and walls of the Ghotul and those found on the combs are related to the fertility cult of these tribal people. Commonly used images are fishes, birds, chameleons, horses and elephants. These combs are made from either roots or the soft stem of some particular plants. Tools like knife are used to give them shape.
Ghotul is a cultural center of Abujhmarias, Gonds and Murias in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Lingo Pen, a phallic deity, is the founder of the Muria Ghotul. The objective of the Ghotuls is educating children, to develop qualities in them and for the selection of life partner. Students were tested for skills in leaf-weaving, vegetable-growing, ash-cleaning, and wood-carving. Sex education is also given in Ghotuls.
This institution is located outside the village. The Ghotul building is a small hut, a meeting hall or group of huts depending upon the village population and leadership. It is used as a meeting center of young males and females. Every male is called Chelick and female called Motiyari.
After sunset the male members arrive at the Ghotul with sleeping mats, tobacco-pouches and other things needed for the night stay. They chat, joke, and smoke around the camp fires. The females sing and dance. Mandri and flute accompany the music. The beat out of the drums indicate that the youth were preparing for the Ghotul.
At late night, Belosa, the leader of the girls and Sirdar, the leader of the boys decide how the couples shall be paired. The decision is as a romance mixed with duty and charm, get equal chances in the equality of romance.
Ghotul is a system of education prevalent among the tribes of central India. Ghotul is actually a type of dormitory, comprising of a large hut or group of hut enclosed in a compound, where the unmarried boys and girls interact with each other in a responsible manner. They are taught the right kind of social behavior. The boys and girls are often paired together, by which they get to know each other and learn to live in harmony. The system of Ghotul is practiced to impart a sense of social democracy right from a young age.
The male members of Ghotul are called as Chelik, while the female members are known as Motiari. The members salute each other in rhythmic manner called as Johar. The activities usually comprises of songs and dance routine held under the supervision of a leader. There are special dances performances by girls once a week. These activities help generate a feeling of friendliness, sympathy and unity among the members.

Comparison with Ghotul
This system of dormitory and typical activity of the young male and female before marriage is found in many region of world in the traditional old culture and belief. Among them in India the most popular is Zawlbuk.
Zawlbuk is the dormitory for the youth in a typical village in Mizoram. In case a village is big, the area is divided into smaller parts called as Veng, with each part having a Zawlbuk of its own. These dormitories form an important component in the culture of the people, helping to shape the youth into a responsible citizen of the society. A boy reaching the age of 15 is considered eligible to join the dormitory.


A Zawlbuk is made up of a large building with enough space for the youths to sleep. These youths are taught the art of wrestling, hunting and village governance. The training session is intensive and requires discipline. Apart from the basic skills in self-defense, a positive attitude toward life, along with the basic values is imparted on the young minds.
Apart from shaping the minds of the youths, Zawlbuk also serves as a rest house for the travelers and visitors to the village.