Question

Describe the common customs and beliefs of people of bastar

Answer 1

(i) That each village was given its land by the Earth. They thus revered and thanked the Earth by making some offerings on each agricultural festival.

(ii) They showed respect to the spirits of the river, the forests, and the mountains.

(iii) Each village was aware of their boundaries. All natural resources within that boundary were looked after and the responsibility of the local people.

(iv) Wood could be taken from forests of another village only after payment of a small fee called dand or man.

(v) Some villages engaged watchmen to protect their forests. Every household contributed some grain as payment for the services to the watchmen.