In this MP village, men 'turn into tigers' to maul wedding offerings

The Kushrams mostly live in the jungles of Amarkantak which extends to Dindori, Anoopur and Mandala districts of the state. No marriage is solemnised by the clan without offering a sacrifice, pig, to the tiger.

Updated on: May 8, 2015, 21:25:12 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Dindori/Indore

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It’s long past sundown in Kutela village. A bride and a groom from Kushram clan of Gond tribe are midway through the traditional seven rounds around the fire. The groom is dressed in check shirt, pants and wears a pair of aviator sunglasses. The bride is in blood-red sari. Suddenly, a pig, chased by a man from the groom’s side, darts through the assembly. Growling and acting like a tiger, he corners it, clubs it repeatedly with a stick, successfully pins it down and sinks his teeth into the pig to suck the animal’s blood. The guests look on happily.

Tradition-demands-that-a-man-from-the-groom-s-side-acting-like-a-tiger-kills-a-pig-and-sucks-the-animal-s-blood

The couple now believe they are married with the blessing of a tiger, which is their god.

The Kushrams mostly live in the jungles of Amarkantak which extends to Dindori, Anoopur and Mandala districts of the state. No marriage is solemnised by the clan without offering a sacrifice, pig, to the tiger.

"Tiger is the kuldeva (God of the community) of Kushram community and everything is linked to this animal in our community," said Doshi, a tribal of Kutela village in Dindori district where the marriage took place.

A bride and a groom from Kushram clan of Gond tribe. (HT Photo)

The bride or groom from Kushram clan marrying from other Gond clans has to offer a pig to tiger.

“We believe if a pig is not offered on time to the tiger, there is a likelihood that the couple will be targeted by the animal,” said Karma Kushram, a member of Kushram community, which depends on forest for livelihood.

Gond is the largest tribe of India, concentrated mainly in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for centuries.

“The Gond tribals are worshippers of prakriti (nature) hence each and every custom has evolved from the jungles and nature. There are 750 clans in Gond tribe and each clan has its own saviour from the nature like trees, rivers, various animals,” said Hari Marwi, a local Gond historian.

“This ensures a balance in the environment as one clan preaches one part of the nature, and sustainable habitat is maintained. Kushrams believe that tigers are their kuldevta and saviour and hence every custom is related to tiger,” said Marwi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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