Jagdalpur. The organising committee has extended a formal invitation to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to attend the world-famous Bastar Dussehra and Muria Durbar.
Led by Bastar MP and Dussehra Committee Chairman Mahesh Kashyap, Manjhi, Chalaki, and Mebarin met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. During the meeting, they formally invited him to attend Bastar Dussehra and the Muria Darbar, and presented him with a picture of Goddess Danteshwari.
Why is Bastar Dussehra special?
In India, Dussehra is generally considered to symbolize Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, but the Dussehra celebrated in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is quite different and mystical. It is associated neither with Ravana Dahan nor with Ramlila—instead, it is the world’s longest Dussehra festival, spanning 75 days, involving the worship of Goddess Danteshwari, tantric rituals, tribal traditions, and deep spiritual mysteries.
It is said that in the 13th century, the then king of Bastar, Purushottam Dev, initiated this festival at the behest of Goddess Danteshwari. It is believed that after visiting the goddess in Jagdalpur, the king resolved to initiate the Dussehra festival to protect his kingdom. (Bastar Dussehra) But this Dussehra was no ordinary celebration—it incorporated mystical aspects such as tantric rituals, the goddess’s chariot, night worship, and the invocation of unknown powers.
13 rituals during 75 days
Bastar Dussehra begins on Hareli Amavasya and concludes with 13 major rituals. These include Pat Jatra (the ritual of bringing wood), the Devi’s Nivedana, Kachin Gadi, Ratharohan, Mawali Parghav, and finally, the farewell of Bahram Dev. Each stage holds its own mystique—especially the Mawali Yatra, in which the idol of the goddess is brought from the forest in the dark of night, where only special priests are allowed.
During Bastar Dussehra, tribal priests (Gudiya, Sirha, and Manjhi) play a prominent role, rather than Brahmins. Secret Tantric rituals are performed at night, which no outsider is allowed to participate in. These night worships are believed to appease the invisible forces that protect Bastar.
The untold story of “Maavali”
During Bastar Dussehra, Goddess Danteshwari is considered the state’s family deity, but another goddess, “Maawali,” plays a special role in the festival, brought from the forest and seated alongside Danteshwari. This tradition reflects the deep mystical connection between nature, the forest, and the goddess in Bastar.
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