Tattoo Art Of Surguja District Chhattisgarh

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The government’s support has allowed the Godana artists to not just become entrepreneurs in their own right but also train a new cohort.
These artists work under Chhattisgarh’s Hastshilp Vikas Board and the state handloom federation of artisans.

What is “Godna”?

Tattooing is an age-old tradition of India in general and tribal societies in particular. In Northern and Central India, tattooing is popularly known as ‘Godna.’
Godna has many motifs, each having a specific significance — some are curative in nature, while others are applied according to rites of passage in a woman’s life — such as puberty, marriage and childbirth
The tattoos are highly valued for their powers of healing and their ritualistic significance.
However in modern times, fewer people are getting tattoos done, as they migrate to cities for jobs where tattoos are frowned upon. Tattoo artists are struggling to survive in this fast-changing world.

Related Tribal Groups

Tattooing is found in primitive tribal groups like the Saharias of Rajasthan, Buksas and Rajis of Uttaranchal, Kelas, Kumeubas, Paniyans and Todas of Tamil Nadu, Chenchus, Konda Reddis and Kuttiya Khands of Andra Pradesh, Abuj Marias, Baigas, Hill Korwas, Bharias, and Sahariyas of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Asurs, Birhors, Korwas and Mal Pahariyas of Jharkhand, Bondos, Juangs, Mankirdias and Sauras of Orissa, Lodhas and Birhors of West Bengal, Riangs of Tripura and the Tribes of many other states.

Tattoo Patterns

The different types of tattoo patterns act as identification marks that distinguish individual from individual, one ethnic group from another and one culture area from another.
The women of the Oraon tribe, living in Surguja and Raigarh districts, get three lines tattooed on their foreheads.
The Bhil women have a characteristic bird like tattoo at the side angle of both eyes. This gives them a permanent long-lashed look.

Godna Painting

Contemporary Indian society has continued the pre-historic rock art tattoos as their popular tradition.
Noteworthy Godna paintings are Devar Godna of Rajanandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, Godi godna of Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, Badi Godna of Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh and Madhubani Godna of Mithila region of Bihar, done by Brahmins and Kayasthas to picturize the sacred Hindu Mythological texts Paswans design animals, minerals and vegetables on their huts rather than divinities Madhubani Godna artists use natural colours derived from bark, leaf, flowers, seeds of plants and trees, clay and cow dung.
The literal meaning of the word Godna is to prick. Tattooing artwork is made by pricking the needle in the body and applying black or blue color coating to it.
Godna is possibly the most pioneering art form, currently practiced by a handful of women in Jangala in Chhattisgarh.
Ladies of this village paint traditional tattoo motifs on textiles. They use natural color obtained from the forest and combine them with acrylic paint to make it more stable on fabric.
The practice of tattooing is going on since ancient times. In the Mahabharata period, Shri Krishna took the form of Godnaharin and went to tattoo Radha.
It is difficult to say how and when it may have started. It is true that this practice must have started to identify its own clan.
This is the reason that tattooing is practiced in almost all castes in Hinduism. Writing names in one’s hands or writing any religious word gives strength to this practice.

Scientific View

From a scientific point of view, tattooing can be considered as a form of acupuncture.
In China, many diseases are cured by pricking needles in the body. The acupuncture method introduced in India in 1959 activates the body’s own neuro-hormonal system.
If the skin is touched properly with a needle, then it is possible for the body to be healthy. Even if it is a needle tattoo.
The people of Surguja region accept the fact that tattooing gives beauty as well as relief from rheumatism, pain of injury or any other kind of pain.

Godna’s significance in Ramarmiha Caste

In Chhattisgarh, people of Ramarmiha caste live in villages on the banks of Mahanadi.
They are also called Ramnamiha and Ramnami. The Ramnami cult is a branch of the Scheduled Castes. Ramnami tattooing is quite different from the primitive tattooing practice in this sect. Ramnami tattooing, both men and women get Ram-Rama tattooed in every part of the body.
The people of this sect believe in Lord Shri Ram in the form of Nirguna. Maghi fair of Shivrinarayan is a famous fair of Ramnami sect.
In relation to Ramnami tattooing, people of the Ramarmiha caste believe that after death, God is recognized as a devotee in heaven. They believe that writing the name of Rama in the body is the signature of Rama.

The Ramnami community of Chhattisgarh started using tattoos as a social retaliation.
Being a Dalit, he had the taboo of temple entry and reading scriptures, so he started tattooing the word Ram-Ram on his entire body as a protest against this taboo.
This community is still following this practice, but in a small measure, even today.
Once upon a time there was a lot of excitement in the tribal society about tattooing. There was also a period in Chhattisgarh from 1950 to 1990 when tribals were encouraged not to get tattooed because it is a sign of backwardness and uneducated.
The misguided tribals remained in dilemma, but eventually this tradition was successful in saving its existence.

Godna on its decline

There was a time when the practice of tattooing was more, now gradually this practice is dying. The new generation people are not accepting this practice.
Tribal culture can be preserved only by keeping this sinking tattooing practice alive.
Painting of Tattoo Art on Clothes – In order to preserve the traditional Tattoo art, painting of Tattoo Art on clothes is being done in Lakhanpur and Udaipur region of Surguja district.
The same traditional pictures of tattooing on clothes are being made, which were earlier made on the whole body.

After being painted with Godana work, the cloth is stitched into stoles, sarees, blouses and ghagras.
The finished products are sold through Shabri and Bilasa, the state-owned handloom stores, as well as on online portals and TRIFED shops under the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The state handloom development federation not only markets these products but also pays wages from the sales.
With this, tattooing is proving to be an important source of income along with saving the art. And women are becoming financially strong. Tattoo art is also given training from time to time by the Government of Chhattisgarh.
In this, Rs 9000 is given to the trainee and Rs 1500 to the trainee per month. In the painting of tattoo art, the bark of Harra, Behera, Dhavain Phool, Parsa Phool, and Rohina is mixed with fabric color by boiling it in water. Mixing the colors of natural fruits, flowers, leaves and barks gives a more solid color.

Question:
Which of the following regions is the original habitat of the ‘Toda Tribe’?