The Bison-Horn Maria have long occupied the lowlands of southern Chhattisgarh, where they have easy access to local trade routes and livestock. They are part of the Gond tribal group spread across multiple states of central and south-central India.

The name of the tribe is derived from a distinctive headgear known as the “tallagulla,” which originally would be adorned with the Indian bison’s horns and peacock feathers.

However, what sets them apart is not just their fascinating headgear but also their gender sensitive customs and open ideas on sex. From normalising premarital sex to ascertain compatibility before marriage to having the liberty to leave your spouse if you fall in love with someone else, from encouraging widow remarriage to giving children of unmarried couples the same rights and respect as children from a formal marriage — their centuries-old practices have resulted in almost no crimes against women and a healthy social fabric.

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source: vice, Instagram