Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India and the soul of Indian tourism has become popular throughout the world for many things such as its art, architecture, colorful festivals and culture particularly the folk which is an integral part of MP. . The native tribal community is famed to celebrate various social occasions through dance and music which is popularly known as folk dance performed on the rhythms of traditional tribal music.
The culture of this state is a reflection of its lifestyle and the numerous fairs and festivals which are celebrated throughout the year. These festivals filled with moments of happiness, entertainment and curiosity naturally are popular among the masses as well as the tourists visiting Madhya Pradesh. Among them the tribal festivals attract more attention since they provide a peek into the lives and customs of the tribal community.. Another attraction during these folk dances is the colorful attires which are really eye catching. Normally these dances are performed in groups in which both male and female dancers take part.
The Khajuraho Festival is topmost among the cultural bonanzas held every year at this destination. Visiting Khajuraho during the festival times could make for some smart planning from your end.. The festivals usually take place against the backdrop of specially illuminated temples.. This adds to the beauty and charm of the on-going festivities as one can witness the art and architecture of the by-gone days with these ancient temples in the background. . On the classical front there are there is a wide range of dances such as Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Kathak, Odissi, Bharatnatyam and Kathakali that are performed. This is the place where people from distant places congregate and learn of the different facets of Indian art and architecture. The performers dressed in traditional dresses look gorgeous and there dance movements are worth observing. This majestic festival runs for seven consecutive days typicallly in the month of February. There are lots of artifacts on sale during this festival which proves to be a great opportunity for the interested shoppers.
The tribal festivals of Madhya Pradesh are held across villages ranging from Mandla to Bastar. Among these, Madai is the most colorful of them celebrated in Bastar. It is held every year during the third or the fourth week of February. This is primarily the festival of the Gonds who gather here after travelling long distances. In Bastar Narayanpur is a major venue for the festival where various religious rituals are performed during the feast. The celebrators gather under a sacred tree and offer goats to the local goddess. The tribal folk fully equipped with traditional musical instruments, chant holy hymns to the beats of tribal music. This is accompanied by the ringing of bells. Its the best time to learn about the customs and rituals of the tribal folks. It is also the occasion to taste tribal cuisine and buy some artifacts and crafts of the region.
Apart from the fairs and festivals another magical experience is to travel to one of the wildlife places like Kanha where you can have a close encounter with some wild animals and predators strolling freely in their particular sanctuary zones. For getting accommodations in Kanha you can book online for a convenient hotel or resort near the sanctuary.