Bison Horn Maria Dance

Recently, the Bison Horn Maria dance of the Dandami Madia tribe in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, has drawn attention as a living expression of the Gond tribal culture.

• The Bison Horn Dance (also called Gaur Maria Dance) is the hallmark of Dandami Maria culture.
• Performed by both men and women during festivals, harvests, weddings, and rituals like Bastar Dussehra, it mimics the majestic movements of the wild bison (gaur).
• Men’s attire includes elaborate bamboo-framed headgear adorned with cattle horns (due to bison scarcity), peacock feathers, cowrie shells, beads, and flowing cloth. They wear ankle bells and play drums (mandar) or flutes.
• Women’s attire consists of ....