LIFE OF THE PEOPLE

Most people who live in the villages are farmers. Their way of life is simple. Artisans and workers too lead a simple life like that of farmers. 

The main article of food which many people eat is jowar or bajara bhakri. Rice is the main article of food that many others eat. Still others eat wheat chapatis. dal, vegetables, chutney, onions etc., are also included in the diet. On festive occasions a special sweet dish like 'puran-poli' is prepared. People living near the sea-coast mainly eat rice and fish.

The farmer generally wears a dhoti, a 'bandi' or a shirt. He wears a cap or a turban or a roomal-turban. Some of them wear a shirt and a pair of of pyjamas. Ladies wear a nine-yard sari and a choli. Nowadays women in  villages have started wearing a six-yard sari.

In regions where the rainfall is low, houses are flat-roofed. The houses in areas where there is a heavy rainfall, have sloping roofs. The walls of houses are built in brick and mud. Some people live in huts. The walls of huts are built in mud or plastered with mud. The houses some people live in are big in size. Such houses are built in stone, brick, mortar or cement.

The main occupation among country folk is agriculture. They also keep milch animals, goats, sheep and poultry. Some farmers sell milk and milk-products. Some of the people make earthen pots and pans, articles of wood, leather and iron. Women and children work along with men-folk on farms. People living near the sea-cost are occupied in fishing.

There is a weekly market in some villages. People from villages nearby go to such markets for sale and purchase of goods.

Many people attained fairs or jatras. Large crowds gather at fairs. Some of the entertainers sing powada or lavani-songs to entertain people. People also like to listen to kirtans and bhajans. Kabaddi, kho-kho, hide-and-seek are games which children in the countryside love to play. Nowadays sports meets are held in many places. So a taste for sport has begun to develop among the people. The ratio broadcast has come to be a means of entertainment in most villages. One can listen to entertainment programmes, informative programmes on the weather, crop-cultivation and news broadcast on the radio. Television programmes can be seen in some villages. In many villages there are libraries too, now.            

The way of life of the people in cities is a little different from that of the village people.

The daily food of the townsfolk mainly includes wheat chapatis, rice, bajra or jowar bhakri, dal and vegetables. Some people eat meat, fish and eggs. Special sweet dishes are cooked on holy days.

Men-folk in towns wear shirts and trousers while women wear saris of different colours. Yong boys and girls wear clothes made in different styles and fashions.

The houses in cities are of different kinds. A large number of them are built in concrete. Some of the houses are many storeyed. Facilities like water, electricity, water closets are provided in most of the houses.

In towns the streets have tarred or concrete surface. The streets in cities are broad. There are various facilities for education in cities. Facilities like libraries, post offices, banks and hospitals are available in cities. There are places of entertainment like cinema-halls and theaters. People in most cities enjoy television facilities. People use vehicles like bicycles, scooters, motor-cars etc. In some cities, there are auto-rickshaws also.

There are warehouses and a market area in towns. Vegetables, utensils, groceries, clothes and other goods are brought and sold there. In some cities trading in different commodities is carried on in different localities. The weekly market-day is also an important day in cities. Foodgrains, animals and other commodities are brought and sold on a large scale on that day.

People in cities too celebrate holy days and festivals. So also, they celebrate Independence Day and Republic Day as National Festivals.

The adivasi way of life is a little different from that of townsfolk or countryfolk. Adivasis live in forests and among hills, far away from cities and villages. Adivasis like the Bhils, Gonds, Lamans, Thakurs, Katkaris, Warlis etc. live in the different regions of our state.

The food of the adivasis includes jowar, bajra, nachni or vari bhakri, vegetables, chutney, onions etc. Some adivasis are eat meat.

The adivasi wears simple clothes. The clothes some adivasis wear are colourful.

Most adivasis live in huts. Their settlements are small in size.

Some adivasis collect gum, fruits, honey, firewood etc. from the forests. Some adivasis keep animals while some are labourers. A few adivasis are farmers.

Adivasis have faith in God. They celebrate Gokul Ashtami, Holi, Ram-navami, Dasara and other holy days. Adivasis like group-dancing and singing.

They Government has opened schools, hostels, ashram-schools in adivasi areas; it has provided facilities like drinking water and roads. With education their way of life is improving.

Their is some difference in the way of life of people living in the countryside, in cities and in the adivasi areas.