Pardhan
The Pardhan are the hereditary bards, genealogists, and ritual musicians of the Gond community, considered cultural custodians rather than a wholly separate ethnic group. They preserve the Lingo epic and Gond clan histories, perform the sacred Bana lute, and serve as essential mediators in Gond ceremonial life.
Area Residing
Small numbers across the district, typically attached to Gond villages as ritual specialists
Language
Gondi (Koitur) with strong oral-epic register; bilingual in Halbi and Hindi
Rituals
Recitation of Gond clan genealogies and the Lingo epic at festivals and life-cycle rituals; playing of the sacred Bana at clan-deity worship; mediation between clan deities and ordinary Gond villagers; ritual blessing at Gond weddings
Festivals Celebrated
Present at all major Gond festivals — Hareli, Karma, Madai, Diyari — as bardic performers; clan-deity festivals
Unique Characteristics
Traditionally the bards, genealogists, and ritual musicians of the Gond community; preservers of the Pari Kupar Lingo oral epic and the genealogies of Gond clans; play the Bana — a sacred bowed lute — that is considered the voice of the clan deity
