Muria

people

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July 1, 2026

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The Muria are a group of indigenous people who inhabit the Bastar region of Madhya Pradesh, India. They are one of three main Gond tribes in this area, alongside the Bisonhorn Maria and the Hill Maria.12

The Muria are known for their unique social structure, particularly their youth dormitories called ghotul. Within these dormitories, unmarried young men and women engage in organized social activities and receive training in civic duties and sexual practices.2

Culturally, the Muria are part of the larger Gond people, who speak various dialects of the unwritten Gondi language, a member of the Dravidian language family. While some Gond have adopted Hindi, Marathi, or Telugu, Gondi remains prevalent among the Muria. Their religious practices center on the worship of clan and village deities, as well as ancestor veneration.2

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South Asian arts
Folk dance
The bison-horn dance of the Muria tribe in Madhya Pradesh is performed by both men and women, who traditionally have lived on equal terms. The men wear a horned headdress with a tall tuft of feathers and a fringe of cowry shells dangling over their faces. A drum shaped like…
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The bison-horn dance of the Muria tribe in Madhya Pradesh is performed by both men and women, who traditionally have lived on equal terms. The men wear a horned headdress with a tall tuft of feathers and a fringe of cowry shells dangling over their faces. A drum shaped like…
Read More

Gond
The Muria are known for their youth dormitories, or ghotul, in the framework of which the unmarried of both sexes lead a highly organized social life; they receive training in civic duties and in sexual practices.
Read More
The Muria are known for their youth dormitories, or ghotul, in the framework of which the unmarried of both sexes lead a highly organized social life; they receive training in civic duties and in sexual practices.
Read More