Madhya Pradesh: Art, culture, fairs and heritage

Madhya Pradesh's culture is seen in its many fairs, its folk and tribal dances, a long tradition of classical music centred on Gwalior, and crafts such as Chanderi, Maheshwari and Bagh textiles. The state portal calls the state the Heart of India both for its central position and for its cultural variety.

Fairs

• District-wise, Ujjain holds the most fairs (227) and Hoshangabad the fewest (13).
• Most fairs fall in March, April and May, when farmers have less field work; June to September are lean months.
• Simhastha: the Kumbha of Ujjain, held every twelve years when Jupiter enters Simha Rashi (Leo), on the bank of the Kshipra. Ujjain also has one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
• Ramlila fair: Bhander tehsil, Gwalior district; over 100 years old; January-February.
• Pir Budhan fair: Sanwara, Shivpuri district; over 250 years old; August-September.
• Nagaji fair: Porsa village, Morena district, for about a month in November-December, in memory of saint Nagaji of Akbar's time.
• Tetaji fair: Bhamavad village, Guna district, held for the last 70 years.
• Amarkantak Shivratri fair: at the origin of the Narmada.
• Barman fair: a 13-day fair from Makar Sankranti at Gadarwara, Narsinghpur district.
• Aalami Tableegi Ijtima: a three-day annual congregation in Bhopal, considered one of the largest religious congregations in the world.

Dance and arts festivals

• Khajuraho Festival of Dances: a week-long festival in February-March, organised by Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad, with Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri and Mohiniattam.
• Lokrang: a five-day festival in Bhopal beginning on 26th January, organised by Madhya Pradesh Adivasi Lok Kala Academy.
• Lokranjan: an annual national festival of folk dances at Khajuraho, organised by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department.
• Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal, a multi-arts centre established on 13th February, 1982, stands on the banks of the upper lake; its architect is Charles Correa. Its sections are Rupankar, Vagarth, Rang Mandal, Anhad, Ashram and Nirala Srijan Peeth.

Folk and tribal dances

• Rai (Baghelkhand): a man disguised as a woman dances to the dholak and nagara; linked to the birth of a child in the Vaishya community.
• Matki (Malwa): a women's dance to a drum called Matki, begun by a lone woman called Jhela.
• Gangaur (Nimar): devotional dance during the nine days of Gangaur, in honour of Ranubai and Dhaniyer Suryadev.
• Badhai (Bundelkhand): for births, marriages and festivals.
• Baredi: from Diwali till Poornima, by 8-10 young men, preceded by two-line poetry called Diwari.
• Naurata (Bundelkhand): by unmarried girls during Navratri, seeking a good match.
• Ahirai: the most popular dance of the Bharia tribe, at marriages, with drums and timki (brass platters). Other Bharia dances: Bharam, Setam, Saila.
• Dadariya (Baiga): performed at Dussehra, linked to a custom letting a Baiga girl choose a husband from a visiting village; Pardhauni welcomes the bridegroom's party.
• Other tribal dances: Karma and Saili (Gonds), Bhagoria (Bhils), Lehangi (Saharias), Thaapti (Kokru).

Music, theatre and painting

• Gwalior is the place of Tansen's devotion to music and the birthplace of Dhrupad; Khyal was refined there.
• The Madhav Music School, Gwalior, was started under Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande in 1918.
• Musicians linked to the state include Ustad Allauddin Khan, Ustad Amir Khan, Kumar Gandharva, Amjad Ali Khan, Asgari Bai and the Dagar brothers.
• Playwrights Satyadev Dubey and Habib Tanvir are identified with the state.
• Painters include D.J. Joshi, Syed Haider Raza, Narayan Shridhar Bendre, Maqbool Fida Hussain and Amrit Lal Vegad.

Textiles

• Chanderi: hand-woven silk and cotton sarees with patterns of fruits, flowers, leaves and birds.
• Maheshwari: arose in the 18th century, inspired by Holkar queen Ahilya Bai; cotton with silk and zari; motifs include Guldasta, Ghungroo, Mayur and Chand Tara.
• Tussar: from cocoons grown on Arjuna, Safa and Sai trees.
• Bagh prints: hand block printing by cheepas; the copper-rich Bagh river brightens vegetable dyes; blocks are of teak.
• Batik is made by block printers of Bhairongarh and Indore.
• Durries: Mandsaur (geometric), rag durries of Satna, woollen durries of Sidhi and Shahdol, and punja durries by Bhils at Jobat.

Other crafts

• Wood craft: Gond and Baiga homes and masks in Mandla; Alirajpur and Jhabua are the main centres of Bhil woodcraft.
• Metal craft: Swarnakars of Tikamgarh make wired-metal utensils such as the hukka and gudguda; Tikamgarh is famed for chariots and brass horses.
• Iron craft: Karera in Shivpuri district.
• Stone work: lattice carving on sandstone at Gwalior; multicoloured marble utensils at Kari near Tikamgarh.
• Baskets: the Toori community of Betul weaves about 50 types of baskets.
• Papier mache: Nagavanshi artists of Bhopal, Ujjain, Gwalior and Ratlam.