Delegation of Bastar Dussehra Committee Led by Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap Meets Chief Minister
Delegation invites Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to Attend Bastar Dussehra Festival
Chief Minister Honoured with Traditional Paga, Extends Best Wishes for Successful Organisation of the Festival
75-Day Bastar Dussehra is a Unique Celebration of Faith, Tradition and Tribal Culture
Raipur. A delegation of the Bastar Dussehra Committee, Jagdalpur, led by Bastar Member of Parliament Mahesh Kashyap, paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the Chief Minister’s Residence Office in Raipur on Thursday. The delegation formally invited Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to attend the world-famous Bastar Dussehra Festival 2026. On the occasion, the delegation honoured the Chief Minister by presenting him with a traditional Paga, in keeping with Bastar’s rich tribal traditions.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai thanked the delegation for the warm invitation and extended his best wishes for the successful organisation of Bastar Dussehra. He said that Bastar Dussehra is not merely a festival but a unique heritage of Bastar’s centuries-old faith, rich tribal culture, traditions and collective participation. The festival beautifully reflects Bastar’s cultural spirit and social harmony.
He said that the state government is committed to preserving and promoting Bastar’s rich cultural heritage and tribal traditions.
The delegation briefed the Chief Minister on Bastar Dussehra’s historical background, its religious rituals and traditions, and preparations for this year’s celebrations.
A Unique 75-Day Celebration of Faith and Tradition
The delegation informed the Chief Minister that the world-famous Bastar Dussehra is a distinctive cultural and religious festival celebrated over approximately 75 days. The festival traditionally begins on Hareli Amavasya and continues through various religious ceremonies and rituals until the Trayodashi of Ashwin Shukla Paksha.
This year, Bastar Dussehra began on August 12 with the traditional Patjatra Puja ritual. According to the schedule, Kachhangadi Puja will be held on October 10, Bel Puja on October 18, and Muria Darbar on October 23. Different communities in the Bastar region traditionally play important roles in the festival’s rituals.
Bastar Dussehra Centred on Worship of Maa Danteshwari
Bastar Dussehra has a distinct identity in India and across the world because of its unique traditions. While Dussehra is widely celebrated as the victory of Bhagwan Shri Ram over Ravana across the world, in Bastar it is observed as a major festival of faith and worship dedicated to Maa Danteshwari, the revered goddess of the Bastar region.
According to tradition, Bastar Dussehra is also associated with the Chalukya ruler Purushottam Dev. Tradition holds that Purushottam Dev visited the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, where he received the title of ‘Rathpati’. This historical tradition gives the chariot special significance in Bastar Dussehra.
The responsibilities of various communities and sections of society, including Manjhi, Chalki and Member-Memberin, are traditionally defined in the celebration of Bastar Dussehra.
Local communities actively participate in religious rituals, chariot construction, and various arrangements, a distinctive feature of the festival. This tradition of collective participation, passed down through generations, makes Bastar Dussehra a unique example of social unity and cultural harmony.
Bastar’s Vibrant Culture Attracts Visitors from India and Abroad
The world-famous Bastar Dussehra attracts devotees and tourists from India and abroad because of its grand chariot procession, distinctive religious rituals, tribal traditions, and folk culture. Every year, many people visit Bastar to witness this historic celebration and experience its vibrant culture.
Bastar Dussehra not only passes on centuries-old cultural heritage to the younger generation but also brings wider recognition to Bastar’s folk arts, traditions and tourism. The collective participation of different communities and their deep faith in Maa Danteshwari give the festival its distinctive character.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said Bastar’s culture is an invaluable part of Chhattisgarh’s heritage. Traditions such as Bastar Dussehra connect us with our roots and introduce the younger generation to our rich cultural heritage. He said preserving and promoting these traditions across India and the world is everyone’s shared responsibility.
The delegation that visited the Chief Minister included Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap, Manglu Manjhi of Pargana Karekote, Shri Balram Manjhi Padam Chalki, Samaru Chalki, Shri Damru Chalki, Laxman Manjhi; several other Manjhis, Chalkis, Member-Memberin, and representatives of the Bastar Dussehra Committee.
