Gonds Tribals
Introduction 
Gonds who call themselves 'Koytoria' ,the largest tribal group in the state in terms of population .Though Gonds can be found almost in all the districts of the state , there are two important concentration regions .The first is the central Madhya Pradesh and the other region is the southern part of the Chhattisgarh state - ie Bastar Division.
More than 20 % of the Gonds in Chhattisgarh state are in Bastar district.In Bastar the three main subcastes of Gonds are Maria , Muria , and Dorla.
The name Gond is extracted from the Telugu word 'Konda' which means hill.Agriculture, collecting minor forest produce ,forging metal goods in cottage industries , fishing,hunting,other primary sector activities are the main activities of Gonds.
Marriages are preferred within the blood relations mostly according to Hindu rites and customs.Sometimes mock elopements are also arranged. Gonds have pro-fertility mentality.Divorces ,remarriages ,widow marriages , marriages with the wives of the brothers and between brothers and sisters are common.
In the event of the death of the husband the widow can marry the younger brother and in all cases he need not be unmarried.She also can marry the elder brother of the deceased husband or any one else .Dowary system is also existing among them- But the groom has to pay bridal price to the father of the girl and this system gives respect to women and held their position on top.
The Gonds tribals of Bastar have their own 'Ghotul' system in which the un married young mature boys and girls live together in seperately made huts and copulate.During this time they enjoy themselves by participating in dancing , music , local story telling etc in a drunken mood. Inspite of these they gets knowledge of different social activities.The members can get out of the ghotuls to marry.This Ghotul system is mostly found among the Muria Gonds tribes and the origin of this system is related with their goddess 'Lingopan'..
