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Introduction
Bastar Dussehra is a long celebration that lasts for 75 days in Chhattisgarh and it is the longest celebration of the tribes in the country. This special festival is a colourful mixture of rituals and local customs to pay homage to the Goddess. The speciality and the significance of the festival lie in the rituals of the festival.
Bastar Dussehra is one of the grand tribal festivals celebrated in dense forests of Chhattisgarh. While most Dussehra festivities are spread over 10 days, for 75 agonizing days this celebration goes on to become the world’s longest Dussehra.
It is unique for not being a festival about Rama’s victory over Ravana, like in the rest of the country, but a dance festival that is all about paying homage to the Goddess Danteshwari, the reigning deity of the tribal region. From end-October or start-November the city spins into a whirl of tribal culture and history.
The Bastar Dussehra is special not only for its duration, for its strong tribal culture and preserved traditions, and for the devotional spirit of the people. These attributes render it a festival unlike any other in India.
What Bastar Dussehra is all about.
Binding Flags in the Ancient Kingdom of Binding Flags
History The festival of Bastar Dussehra dates back to 15th century when the Kakatiya rulers of Bastar established their empire in this region. The festival was started to commemorate the Danteshwari temple which is said to be 80 km away from Jagdalpur at Dantewada.
Bastar’s “maharaja” (the king) has been hereditary “patron” of this festival for 600 years, and continues to be. To the present day, the deposed royal family of Bangkok keeps this custom alive, and its ancient values and conventions have left it a relic of reality.
The Goddess Danteshwari Connection
Goddess Danteshwari is a goddess of the community, as well as a form of Goddess Durga, revered as the Kuldevata, of the Bastar region. She was said to have been served to the native people by its surface-dwelling neighbours to protect their towns from the evil spirits she unleashed when she fled into the earth.
Etymology The name Danteshwari actually derived from the words Danta – meaning teeth and Ishwari -meaning Goddess i.e., the goddess with teeth. It is said that Goddess Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva bitten her tongue, so she lost a tooth of that part during her marriage with Lord Shiva on the spot where this temple is located.
Bastar Dussehra: Key Historical Facts:
Festival Period: 75 days (the longest in India)
Origin: 15th-century Kakatiya dynasty
Primary deity: Goddess Danteshwari
Location: Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh
Patronage of royalty: Over 600 years of continuous Patronage
To know what makes it special, think what makes Bastar Dussehra different from other Indian festivals.
A 75-Day Marathon Celebration
In many places Dussehra lasts 9-10 days, but in Bastar it extends over 75, from mid-July to a new moon in Ashwin. This long duration allows for complicated rituals, hours long processions, and significant participation.
The festival is based on the lunar calendar, and is usually in September, October and sometimes even extends into November, so it is more or less a season rather than just a festival.
Tribal-Centric Celebrations
Bastar Dussehra is a completely tribal festival and doesn’t relate to the story of Rama-Ravana that you see in other places. It incorporates folk music, dance, traditional dress, old rituals and strong community participation, centered on local goddesses rather than on well-known Indian legends.
Authentic Tribal Elements:
Folk dance and music performed by tribal groups
Colourful and beautifully designed native costumes
Generational wisdom of ancient rituals
Tribal community involvement is high for many of the tribes
Not pan-Indian mythic figures but domestic goddesses
The Magnificent Chariot Procession
The centrepiece is a two-story wooden chariot, constructed by the hands of local artisans and pulled through the streets by 400 people.
The chariot is constructed by master crafts persons over months, using techniques handed down through generations and based on cultural motifs.
Traditional old-aged techniques that have been passed on from generations
Sacred Ornaments sanctified by the tribal priests
The Great 75-Day Festival: A Timeline
First Phase: The Holy Beginning (Days 1-15)
The festival is inaugurated with the Kalash Sthapana ceremony which involves the installation of holy water- filled pots in the palace. This phase includes:
Opening Rituals:
Prayer to goddess Dhanteshwari and religion ritual
Dedicating the chariot to the tribal priests
Services in community organised by the royal family
Local artisans’ handwork taps) Preparation of offerings by local craftsmen
Phase 2: Creating momentum (Days 16–45)
This middle stage is a period where the presence and involvement of the community expand and preparations become more extensive:
Community Activities:
Palace daily prayers and performances
Folk performance by other tribes
Craft exhibitions showcasing local artistry
Folk food fests.
Phase 3: The Big Finish (Days 46-75)
The final stage that finally culminates in that grandest of all forms of celebration is:
Major Events:
Pushp Rath Parikrama: The giant roller-coaster rides-on-wheels
Bheetar Raini: Sacred night ceremonies
Mass Gathering Centre of devotes of entire of India
Cultural competitions among tribal communities
Cultural Significance and Tribal Tradition
The Role of Tribal Communities
Bastar’s Dussehra festivals are truly communal affairs joining different Adivasi groups within the region, contributing to the rituals, the music and the dance, and the arrangements over the 75 days.
Participating Tribes:
Gond communities leading ritual preparations
Maria’s tribe performing traditional dances
Muria groups contribute folk music
Dhruva communities managing logistics
The Bhatra families are making up ceremonial objects
Sacred Rituals and Ceremonies
It’s a festival filled with a ton of ancient rites in some cases hundreds, some cases even thousands of years old:
Traditional Practices:
The fire worship ceremony is conducted by the tribal priest.
Ancestor reverence through special offerings
A regard for trees, rivers and hills in Nature-worship
Tribal feasting, for example, is about cooking in a manner of celebration.
Healing ceremonies of tribal medicine men
Preservation of Ancient Arts
Living Museum of Tribal Arts & Crafts Bastar Dussehra:
Artistic Traditions:
Metal-craft using age old technique of bell-metal art.
Woodcut for ornament and ceremony.
Weaving of Fabrics in Cotton and Woolen with Natural Dyes and Fibres
Pottery making for ceremonial vessels
Locally made musical instruments
Spectacular Festivities and Events
The Grand Chariot Procession
The Rath Yatra or the chariot procession: The most attracting site of all during the Bastar Dussehra is of course the grand Rath Yatra
Procession Details:
Chariot dimensions: Two-tiered, height: 20 feet
Pulling force: 400+ community members
Distance by road: A Couple kms far to Jagdalpur
Length: All-day celebration with lots of stops
Number of Participants: Thousands of pilgrims in the procession
Musical and Dance Performances
The festival showcases the folk music tradition of tribal Chhattisgarh:
Performance Categories:
Gaur dance: The Maria and Muria tribes perform it.
Karma dance: This is harvesting time dance.
Saila (Stick) Dance: Stick dance by a young man to the accompaniment of drums
Other vocal works: Songs in the invoking spirit orchestras, Ballads in local dialects
Music with instruments consisting of drums, flutes and stringed instruments
Food and Feast Traditions
Bastar Dussehra: What Makes the Food So Special!
Traditional Foods:
Mahua flower recipes: The local sugary cast of a flower
Curry of bamboo shoot: Various vegetable dishes, etc.
Forest sweets from honey Served with the traditional sweet dish of the tribals.
Millet-based dishes: Nutritious grain preparations
Traditional rice wine: Ceremonial beverages
How to Plan Your Visit to the Bastar Dussehra
Best Time to Visit the Festival
Bastar Dussehra goes on for 75 days, though the best parts are the beginning observances, the exuberant cultural events in the middle and the titanic chariot procession at the end.
Peak Celebration Times:
In week one: Savor the holy opening
Mid-festival period: Enjoy cultural performances
Last 10 days: The grand finale
Day of the Chariot procession: The Biggest Show
Closing ceremonies: Traditional conclusion rituals
Travel and Accommodation
Getting to Jagdalpur:
How to reach Jagdalpur: By Air: The closest airport is in Raipur (300 km from Jagdalpur).
By train: The city is linked by Jagdalpur railway station to the major cities in the city.
By Rail: Well-connected through then major cities.
Local transport: Auto rickshaws, and buses are available
Accommodation Options:
Government guest houses: And clean and cheap
Where to stay: Very Few hotels, but they are all comfortable.
Homestays: Experience authentic tribal hospitality
Camping: Paid campsites during the busiest days of the festival
Visilight Tower is ready to invade the Light Kingdom.
Dussehra is the absolute thing to do in Bastar for tourists and it offers a very genuine and even raw cultural experience:
Visitor Experience:
Tribal culture, unadulterated by time
Warm hospitality: Welcoming local communities
Unique traditions: Nowhere in India
Photography: Colourful and vibrant scenes.
Cultural learning: Understanding tribal traditions
The Economic and Social Toll
Boosting Local Economy
Bastar Dussehra economically significance for the region:
Economic Benefits:
Tourism revenue: Increased visitor spending
Arts and crafts sales: Earnings up for craftspeople
Occupation: Seasonal Work during Festivals
Opportunities: Food carts and services
Government support: Infrastructure development
Preserving Cultural Heritage
The festival is key in the maintenance of culture’s lifeblood:
Heritage Conservation:
Language maintenance: Tribal languages are vibrant
Technology transfer: Old handiwork to the young
Cultural documentation: Recording ancient practices
Community pride: Strengthening tribal identity
Inter-generational bonding: Elders teaching traditions
Challenges and Modern Adaptations
Balancing Tradition with Modernity
Bastar Dussehra’s tussle between old and new ages:
Modern Challenges:
Infrastructure needs: Accommodating growing crowds
Environmental issues: Waste and crowds
Cultural authenticity: Avoiding commercialization
Youth engagement: Keeping traditions relevant
Government support: Ensuring adequate funding
Conservation Efforts
Other measures that reinforce the festival’s authenticity:
Conservation Measures:
Documentation projects: Recording traditional practices
Artisan training: Teaching traditional crafts
Economic Benefits:
Sustainable tourism: Eco-friendly visitor practices
Engagement involvement in the community: participation in planning within the community
Final Thoughts
India has many extraordinary festivals, but Bastar Dussehra is one of the most unique. These 75 days long tribute to the tribal culture of landing to its roots with no commercialization. It contributes to the diversity of Indian festivals and performance and demonstrates how our culture is more than it is often perceived to be.
This combination of the age-old and the lively makes Bastar Dussehra both profound and spirited. Yes, if you would like to be a part of real tribal culture, this festival will give you an amazing insight into traditions that have lasted for hundreds of years. Whether you are chariot street procession lover or cherish unique tribal performances or fervently wish to see the diversity of Indian culture, Bastar Dussehra will really make you feeling overwhelmed. This sprawling festival is a reminder that India’s wealth is not only in its grand sites but in the living traditions of its people.
