Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai received an invitation to participate in the Bastar Dussehra festival.

A delegation of Bastar Dussehra Committee led by Bastar MP Shri Mahesh Kashyap made a courtesy call on the Chief Minister

The Chief Minister was honored by wearing a traditional turban, and the Chief Minister wished for the success of the event.

The 75-day long Bastar Dussehra is a unique confluence of faith, tradition and tribal culture.

Raipur, October 2026/ A delegation from the Bastar Dussehra Committee, Jagdalpur, led by Bastar MP Shri Mahesh Kashyap, paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai at the Chief Minister's residence office in the capital, Raipur, this evening. The delegation cordially invited Chief Minister Shri Sai to participate in the world-famous Bastar Dussehra festival in 2026. On this occasion, in keeping with Bastar's rich tribal tradition, the delegation honored the Chief Minister by presenting him with a traditional turban.

Chief Minister Shri Sai thanked the delegation for the warm invitation and extended his best wishes for the successful organization of Bastar Dussehra. He said that Bastar Dussehra is not just a festival, but a unique legacy of Bastar's centuries-old faith, rich tribal culture, traditions, and collective participation. This festival beautifully expresses Bastar's cultural spirit and social harmony. Our government is committed to preserving and promoting Bastar's rich cultural heritage and tribal traditions.

The delegation gave detailed information to the Chief Minister regarding the historical background of Bastar Dussehra, the religious rituals and traditions associated with it and the preparations for this year's event.

This unique journey of faith and tradition lasts for 75 days.

The delegation informed the Chief Minister that the world-famous Bastar Dussehra is a unique cultural and religious festival lasting approximately 75 days. It traditionally begins on Hareli Amavasya and continues until the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin Shukla Paksha, with various rituals and ceremonies.

This year, the Bastar Dussehra festival began with the Patjatra Puja ceremony on August 12th. According to the schedule, Kachnagadi Puja will be held on October 10th, Bel Puja on October 18th, and Muria Darbar on October 23rd. Different communities of the region traditionally play a significant role in the various rituals of Bastar Dussehra.

Bastar Dussehra is associated with the worship of Mother Danteshwari.

Bastar Dussehra holds a distinct identity in the country and the world due to its unique traditions. Its most significant feature is that in Bastar, Dussehra is celebrated not as a celebration of Lord Rama's victory over Ravana, but as a grand festival of faith and worship towards the revered goddess of the Bastar region, Maa Danteshwari.

Historically, the tradition of Bastar Dussehra is also linked to the Chalukya king Purushottam Deva. It is believed that Purushottam Deva visited the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, where he received the title of "Rathapati." This historical tradition gives the chariot its special significance in Bastar Dussehra.

Bastar Dussehra traditionally has designated responsibilities for various communities and different sections of society, including the Manjhi, Chalki, and Member-Memberin. It is characterized by the active participation of local communities in various arrangements, from religious rituals to chariot construction and the event itself. This tradition of collective participation, passed down from generation to generation, makes Bastar Dussehra a unique example of social unity and cultural integration.

The vibrant culture of Bastar attracts people from all over the world.

The world-famous Bastar Dussehra, with its grand chariot procession, distinctive rituals, tribal traditions, and folk culture, is a major attraction for devotees and tourists from India and abroad. Every year, large numbers of people arrive to witness this historic event and the vibrant culture of Bastar.