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Madhya Pradesh,
the land of Kings and primitive people, of rugged mountains , myth and
romance, is the largest state in the Indian Union, with its capital at
Bhopal. M.P. is a vast plateau surrounded by the Vindhya and Satpura
mountains that make a rugged descent into the valleys of the Narmada
and Tapti rivers which have long served as a passageway connecting
east and west India
Madhya
Pradesh, is a fascinating amalgam of an old historic city, and modern
urban planning. It is situated on the 11th century city, Bhojapal,
founded by Raja Bhoja but the present city was established by an Afghan
soldier, Dost Mohammed. Today it presents a multi-faceted profile: the
old city with its marketplaces and fine old mosques and palaces still
bears the aristocratic imprint of its former rulers, among them the
succession of powerful Begums who ruled Bhopal from 1819 to 1926.
Equally impressive is the new city with its verdant, exquisitely laid
out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices.
History:
The history of Madhya Pradesh goes back to the time of Ashoka, the
great Mauryan ruler. To the Chandelas, however, goes the credit of
building the fantastic monuments of Eros, Khajuraho, in the north of the
state. Between 12th and 16th centuries, the region saw continuing
struggles between Hindu and Muslim rulers and invaders. The fortified
city of Mandu in the southwest, was the scene of frequent battles.
Madhya Pradesh finally fell to the Mughals.
Culture:
The state's cultural lineage is ancient and checkered. Madhya
Pradesh occupies a special position in the history of music. The Gwalior
gharana is among the most prominent arbiters of style. The rivalry of
Tansen and Baiju Bawra is remembered in fantastic detail to this day. In
modern times, the revival of north Indian classical music was
accomplished by the legendary Ustad Allaudin Khan, guru of famous
sitarist Pt. Ravi Shankar and sarod player Ali Akbar Khan. MP also has a
rich tribal culture: the bison-horn dance of the Muria tribe in Madhya
Pradesh is a dynamic interpretation of nature's mating season.
The
People: Hindus form the majority of the population, but there are
significant minorities of Muslims, Jains, Christians, and Buddhists and
a small population of Sikhs. Hindi is the official and most widely
spoken language; tribal languages include Bhili and Goni, as well as
eastern and western Hindi dialects. The second most important common
language is Marathi. Agriculture dominates the Madhya Pradesh economy.
MP is also famous for its sari weaving, embroidery and beadwork
Tribals:
A number of tribes occupy Madhya Pradesh, including the Bhil, Baiga,
Gon, Korku, Kamar, Kol, and Maria. Many of the tribal traditions are
still vital and strong, although they have been exposed to outside
cultural influences. A great deal of tribal mythology and folklore is
also preserved; e.g., the Gon bards still sing of the legendary deeds of
Ling-pen, the mythical originator of the tribe. All tribes retain myths
and legends regarding their origins, and they have songs for the
ceremonies of birth and marriage, together with folktales, riddles, and
proverbs illustrating their cultural heritage.
CLIMATE:
The climate is monsoonal, with much of the rain falling from June to
October. The March-to-May season is hot and dry, and temperatures
everywhere are higher than 29º C. Winters are usually pleasant and dry.
Generally, rainfall decreases westward and northward; in the east and
southeast it averages 60 inches or more, dropping to 40 inches or less
in the west and less than 30 inches in the Chambal River valley to the
north. Best time to visit: September to February.
Population:
74 million
Festivals:
Khajuraho dance festival in March; Navaratri in Sept/Oct; The Malwa
festival in Indore, Mandu and Ujjain and the Panchmarhi festival.
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