Page 79 - SST Class 04

Hindi is the common language. Men wear dhoti-kurta and women wear saree-blouse .
Rice and wheat are their staple diets. The festivals such as Holi, Dussehra, Diwali and
Eid are celebrated with fanfare.

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is located in the basin of the Mahanadi River in the region of
Chotanagpur Plateau. The tribal people have a large population here, the important of
,
them being Maria Muria and Gonds , who are mainly engaged in cotton industry of
bidi-making from tendu leaves.

The people chiefly speak Hindi and other dialects. Important occupations include
cottage industries, mining and farming. This state is rich in minerals, such as bauxite,
limestone, graphite, coal, iron ore and manganese.

So, many heavy industries have been set up here,
such as Bhilai Steel Plant at Bhilai and Bharat
Aluminium Company (BALCO) at Korba. The
important crops grown here are rice and millets.

Raipur is its capital. The important places of tourist
interest are Bilaspur, Amarkantak, Bhoramdeo and
Kabra.
Gond tribals

Odisha

Odisha has both coastal plains and plateaus. The Mahanadi River has formed a fertile
delta here. It receives a lot of rain. It is rich in forests and wildlife. Elephants, bison and
panthers are commonly found in the forests here.

Its fertile land allows the crops of rice, jute, sugarcane and oilseeds. Its plateau region
is rich in minerals, such as iron ore, manganese, bauxite etc. Many heavy industries are
located here. Rourkela is an important industrial centre.

The state has a sizeable population of tribal people,
whose important occupations are bidi-making and
handicrafts. Other occupations include farming and

mining.
People of Odisha speak Odiya. Their chief festival is
Durga Puja; other festivals are also celebrated such as
Diwali, Holi, Saraswati Puja etc. Men wear dhoti-

kurta while women wear saree-blouse . The classical
Rath yatra
dance, Odissi , is very popular here.

India : Life in Southern Plateaus 79