Culture · Heritage · SDG 11

Guriya: Chhattisgarh's Community Magazine

Guriya is a handwritten, hand-illustrated community magazine produced in the Chhattisgarhi language by Meer Foundation. It preserves regional folklore, celebrates local heroes, and empowers youth through participatory storytelling and artisan illustration.

  • Published periodically in Chhattisgarhi with Hindi translations
  • Handwritten and illustrated by community youth volunteers
  • Content covers: local heroes, folklore, recipes, health tips, environment, and women's stories
  • Distributed free across villages in Dhamtari and adjoining districts
  • Archives digitised and uploaded to Meer Foundation's digital library
  • Acts as a creative apprenticeship for aspiring rural writers and artists

Why Guriya Matters

With rapid digitisation, Chhattisgarhi oral traditions and local dialects face existential risk. Guriya serves as a living archive — created by the community, for the community — ensuring that stories, recipes, and wisdom passed down for generations are not lost to time.

"When we write for Guriya, we feel our stories matter. They are not just village tales — they are Chhattisgarh's heritage."
Youth Contributor, Dhamtari