Madhya Pradesh is one of the central states of India, both in terms of culture and history, and geographically as well, and thus is often referred to as the Heart of India. The capital city is Bhopal, while the largest is Indore. It is the second-largest state in terms of area, and fifth-largest in terms of population. Madhya Pradesh consists of 45 districts which are further divided into 264 tehsils. The state was earlier part of the region called Malwa. Madhya Pradesh has a vibrant history of various arts and crafts, with the intricate work of weaving silk and cotton called Maheshwari and Chanderi silk work being among the most noteworthy. Gaur and Muria are the two major dance forms of Madhya Pradesh.

Social and cultural facts about Madhya Pradesh:

• The world-famous Kumbh Mela, one of the major Hindu pilgrimage festivals, is organised every 12 years at Ujjain, among other places. It is called the Ujjain Kumbh Mela, or Ujjain Simhastha, drawing millions of people from across the country and abroad. It is celebrated along the banks of the river Kshipra. 
• There are more than 100 temples in Ujjain, and that is why it is also known as ‘City of temples’
• Sanchi Stupa is one of the major historical Buddhist monuments situated here.
• There are 12 Jyotirlingas in India, 2 of them are located in the State of Madhya Pradesh. One is Mahakaleshwar of Ujjain and the other is Omkareshwar of Khandwa district.
• The Kanha National Park, which is located in Jabalpur, is one of the most beautiful wildlife sanctuaries in India and is home to over 500 majestic Royal Bengal Tigers. 

People of Madhya Pradesh:

The higher density of the population in the state is in the rural belt. There are several tribes in Madhya Pradesh, prominent among these tribes are Korku, Kol, Bhil, Gond, Baiga, Maria and Kamara. About 1/5th  of the population in the state belongs to scheduled tribes. The official language of the state is Hindi, which is spoken in various dialects such as Bagheli and Awadhi towards the south and east of the state and Bundeli along the western side of Madhya Pradesh. Malvi is also spoken in central Madhya Pradesh. Other languages spoken include Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Oriya. The tribal people of Bhil speak Bhili, and the Gond speak Gondi.

As is the case across the country, Hindus form the majority in the state, though there is a significant presence of people of other faiths such as Jains, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs.

Arts and Crafts of Madhya Pradesh:

• Madhya Pradesh is rich in its cultural heritage. It has a lot of temples, forts, and sculptures too across the state. Among the most renowned arts sites in the state is the Bhimbetka rock shelters, a UNESCO world heritage site, which has wall paintings dating back around 10,000. This is located at the foothills of the Vindhya range.
• Emperor Ashoka constructed the famous Buddhist monument at Sanchi, which is among the oldest in the country. 
• Gwalior is home to some of the most opulent mansions and residences of former princes of the state.
• The western town of Mhow has artwork in the caves of Bagh that date back to around the 5th century. 
• The Chandela kings who ruled from the 9th to mid-11th century built the temples at Khajuraho. These temples are famous for their erotic art. 
• Various cultural events take place in the state on an annual basis, including Kalidas Samaroh for visual and performing arts at Ujjain, Tansen Samaroh for classical music at Gwalior, and a dance festival at Khajuraho.
• Maheshwar manufactures a special kind of saree which is a combination of cotton and silk. These are still made in the traditional style. Other than these unique fabrics with block prints, called zari work is carried out across the state. Folk paintings, ornamental works, bamboo and jute works are among the flourishing trades in the state. 

History of Madhya Pradesh:

One of the oldest kingdoms in the region was Avanti, and the capital of this kingdom was Ujjain, which is famous for its Mahakaleshwar temple. Shungas, Satavahanas, Shakas and Nagas are some of the dynasties that have ruled in Madhya Pradesh between the 2nd and 10th centuries. The Mughals invaded the state and Sultan Iltutmish was among the first of the rulers of this empire. Khalji and Akbar were the successive rulers of the state. In the late 18th century, the Marathas annexed power and established the Holkar dynasty in the southwest region of the state around Indore.

Food and Delicacies in Madhya Pradesh:

Madhya Pradesh has among the widest range of delicacies to satiate the needs of vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Dal baflas, kusli, Indori poha, palak puri, and lavang lata are some of the traditional dishes of the state. Spicy kebabs, fish, meat, and keema are especially popular in Bhopal.

Conclusion :

The state of Madhya Pradesh is located in the central region of India and is called ‘The Heart of India’. The second-largest state in India has a lot of beautiful and interesting places, including Ujjain, Maheshwar, Indore, Gwalior, and Jabalpur. Hindi language is mainly spoken by the native people, and other languages spoken include Marathi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Oriya. The tribal people of Bhil speak Bhili, and the Gond speak Gondi. The state has a large majority of Hindus, but also other minorities such as Jains, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs. The Holkar dynasty was the last to rule the region, with their main centre being Indore.