Tribal Museum in Bhopal brings to life the culture of Madhya Pradesh’s tribes, showcasing their architecture, craft, art, and rituals in interactive and visually spectacular displays. The museum is a grand visual spectacle. The museum has six galleries, full of vivid, life-size (and some larger than life) installations.
The outer façade features a huge mural by celebrated Gond artist Durga Bai. Walk through a mud-floored Baiga home highlights the architectural skill and aesthetic approach to the interiors and use of natural resources. In another section, on display is a wedding canopy under the shade of four beautifully carved trees, which represent myths from four different tribes. These trees symbolize the Origin of Life, life cycle, life in totality and eternity. Ceremonial bangles, musical instruments, tales glorifying the life of ancestors, designs demarcating important rituals have been showcased here. The life, death, festivals, and rituals have been symbolically represented in the Spiritual World Gallery. Terracotta offerings, tridents, earthen lamps, Meghnad Khamb of Korku tribe, Sarag Naseni of Gonds, Gal Bapsi, Tatal Devi’s (who joins broken limbs) place of Bhils, Dev Gudi of Murias and Maharani Khamb of Baiga make the understanding of importance of the divine power in a tribal man’s life easy.
Iron pieces, hollowed out gourd and clay or terracotta figures used in creating games highlight another aspect of tribal life in the Rakku Gallery. Games like Rakku, Pithhu, Gendi, wrestling, fishing and games for girls, especially like Gippa, Chaupar, Ghar-Ghar, Ghullu-Dandi have been displayed.
To connect with India’s roots, a tour to this one-of-a-kind place is a must.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Tribal Museum, Bhopal
Timings: Tue-Sun 12pm-8pm. Closed Monday
Fees: INR 10 per person
Address: Shyamla Hills Rd, Shymala Hills, Bhopal