About
Gaur Maria is a ritual dance of the Maria Gond community of Bastar, performers wearing tall headdresses topped with real or replica bison horns and peacock feathers, dancing to a driving ensemble of drums that can be heard across a village long before the procession arrives.
History
The dance is closely tied to the region's relationship with the gaur (Indian bison) and is performed at marriages and major community festivals as a display of collective strength and status. Its distinctive horned headdress remains one of the most photographed images associated with Bastar's tribal culture.
Styles
Wedding Gaur
Performed as part of marriage celebrations, typically by the groom's community.
Festival Gaur
A larger-scale performance staged at community festivals, involving multiple troupes.
Instruments
Changu · चांगू
A small tribal frame drum from the Bastar and Surguja plateaus, used to drive the tempo of Saila and Gaur dance performances.
Dafda · डफड़ा
A large frame drum central to Raut Nacha and Karma, played standing while dancers move in circular formation.
Regions
Bastar