S$x in 21st century India is still largely a taboo topic talked about in hushed tones behind closed doors. Public displays of affection are looked down up, and sometimes even penalized. But the Murias, an indigenous tribe in Chhattisgarh, practice vastly different attitudes towards s$x and sexuality.
The Muria tribe is unique in their construction of the ‘Ghotul’ a commune or dormitory, meant to create an environment for Muria youth to get acquainted with their sexuality. According to this tribe, ‘Premarital s$x’ is not a sin nor is the couple ostracised from society. They stay together and have all the freedom to enjoy life as husband and wife. Even many couples marry after the birth of their children, and society accepts children born out of wedlock. The Muria embrace sexuality from a young age.
They send youths to mixed-s*x dormitories called ghotul, where they live in close quarters and are expected to engage in sexual activities, up to and including intercourse; this expectation does not extend to group s*x, which is discouraged. In some ghotul, adolescents are put in monogamous relationships; in others, they are discouraged from becoming emotionally attached to their partners, and those who sleep together for more than three nights are punished.
Although having privacy for intercourse is considered important, they do not deem it a necessity. Prior to engagement, Muria men may freely engage in sexual intercourse with their mother’s brother’s daughter or father’s sister’s daughter, while women may do the same with their father’s sister’s son or mother’s brother’s son; they do not allow this after betrothal. Women may freely grab each other’s breasts or exchange sexually themed jokes, a custom which becomes more common as they get older.
The Muria marry late and do not pay dowries. They are not allowed to marry from within their own clan, although a Muria man may marry his cousin; cousin marriage is common, with Muria men often marrying their mother’s brother’s daughter or father’s sister’s daughter. The elders in the community seem to be clueless about how to handle these concerns. “Many have criticized our customs including the Ghotul. But we have stood our ground.
But now, with members leaving and leading a life outside of the village, they might question some rituals, and we don’t know how we tackle the same,” a senior member of the community said, not wanting to be named. With education and new ideas entering the traditional life led by the Murias, the community fears what changes this will entail. As youngsters step out for better jobs and some even for higher education, they bring in new experiences. But till then, the Murias and their Ghotul ritual remain a progressive act in a regressive society. This has been an ancient tradition followed by tribes in remote, inaccessible parts of the country.
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