Muria people

The Muria are an indigenous ''Adivasi'', scheduled tribe Dravidian community of the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, India. They are part of the Gondi people. Traditionally, they are economically homogeneous and strive to work as a collective. They have mixed-sex dormitories where adolescents are sent to practice premarital sex, sometimes with a single partner and sometimes serially. They have an omnivorous diet, with liquor playing a key role in their society.

Etymology

Shiva Tosh Das writes that the name ''Muria'' comes from the root word ''mur'', which can be translated as either "root" or "permanent"; it may be based on the fact that the Muria are settled, unlike the nomadic Maria.

Social structure

The Muria prioritise collectiveness. They are divided into five phratries:
* the Nagvans (Snake Race),
* the Kacchimvans (Tortoise Race),
* the Bakravans (Goat Race),
* the Baghvans (Tiger Race) and
* the Bodminkvans (Fish Race).

They are not allowed to eat their totem animal, and must mourn it if one dies.

Costume

Male Muria wear clothing similar to that of the Chandrapur District, while the females often dress in simple garments that do not cover the breasts. The style of the garments appears to have been modified after contact with other tribes, as observed in the early 1980s.

Location

The Muria live in the north-central part of Bastar district, north of the Indravati River, located in Chhattisgarh state in central India. They live in two administrative divisions: the Kondagaon Tehsil in the east and the Narayanpur Tehsil in the west.

Economy

Compared to other ''Adivasi'', the Muria are relatively prosperous. Their economic stratification has traditionally been homogeneous, with exceptional consumption outside of designated periods, such as feasts, viewed as "socially threatening, hubristic, and disruptive"; conspicuous wealth has been considered to cause more problems than it solves. Alfred Gell writes that the disparity between their perception of the ethics of consumption and modern production technology has caused some to have more wealth than they are willing to spend.

Sexuality and marriage

The Muria embrace sexuality from a young age. Youths are sent to mixed-sex dormitories called ''ghotul'', where they live in close quarters and are expected to engage in sexual activities, up to and including intercourse; this expectation does not extend to group sex, which is discouraged. In some ''ghotul'', adolescents are put in monogamous relationships; in others they are discouraged from becoming emotionally attached to their partners, and those who sleep together for more than three nights are punished. Although having privacy for intercourse is considered important, it is not deemed a necessity.

Prior to engagement, Muria men may freely engage in sexual intercourse with their mother's brother's daughter or father's sister's daughter, while women may do the same with their father's sister's son or mother's brother's son. However, this is not allowed after betrothal. Women may freely grab each other's breasts or exchange sexually themed jokes, a custom which becomes more common as they get older.

The Muria generally marry late and do not pay dowries. They are not allowed to marry from within their own clan, although a Muria man may marry his cousin. Cousin marriage is common, with Muria men often marrying their mother's brother's daughter or father's sister's daughter.

Diet

The Muria are generally self-sufficient in producing and consuming dal, chickpeas, and lentils. Vegetables, including radishes, eggplant, chili, and tomatoes are eaten during important ceremonies; rice is also eaten at these times. Luxury foods for the Muria tend to be traditional. The Muria people drink a local form of liquor, which plays a key role in social and ritual gatherings.

Religion

The Muria traditionally practice their folk religion, worshipping the deities of their respective village and clan, similar to Sarnaism.

References

Bibliography

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Ethnic groups in Chhattisgarh
Scheduled Tribes of India
Bastar district
Tribes of Chhattisgarh