Bastar Dussehra

Dusserha is a festival celebrated throughout India, mainly in the North. But the one in Bastar is totally unique and it is surely the most amazing Dussehra you will attend. Dussehra is usually linked to the Ramayana, the great Indian Hindu epic, and with Lord Rama and the demon Ravana. Dussera is an important festival of Bastar. Dussera here is unlike the usual belief of India that is blessed by goddess Durga, Lord Rama killed Ravana which was later called as Dussera. The festival involves participation of all major tribes of Bastar. Deities from all nearby villages are gathered at Danteshwari temple in Jagdalpur. It is celebrated for continuous 75 days. It has been started by the Royal families of Bastar and has now become tradition of tribal life of Bastar. Here, instead of celebrating the defeat of the demon king Ravana, the tribes honor the goddess Devi Mavli, the native deity of the Bastar, venerated as the elder sister of the goddess Devi Danteshwari (the goddess of the Kakatiya family). Another particularity is that the festival lasts 75 days which makes it one of the longest festival in the world. It includes different religious rituals (including goat sacrifices), chariot processions, songs and tribal dances, all in a rather crazy atmosphere! Jagdalpur was the capital of the princely state of the Bastar region. It is a compulsory stop in Chhattisgarh because of its proximity to numerous archaeological sites and nature sanctuaries and its unique tribal culture which is illustrated by the exhuberant festival of Dusserha. Dussera, Bastar’s most important festival is not about Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya. The focus is principally on Shri Danteshwari Mata and her significance in the life of this land and its people. Bastar Dussera is the unique cultural trait of Chhattisgarh. Celebrated by the local people of the state with sufficient vigor, the festival of Dussera connotes to the supreme power of goddess Danteshwari. During Dussera, the inhabitants of Bastar organises special worship ceremonies at the Danteshwari temple of Jagadalpur. It is believed that Maharaja Purushaottam Deo first initiated the festival of Dussera in the early 15th century. Since then it became customary for all the tribes of Bastar to take part in this holy festival. During the entire ten days of the occasion, the respected Raj family of Bastar arrange worship sessions in which the ancient arms of the goddess Danteshwari are treated as divine elements. One of the inherent traits of Bastar Dussera is that the control of the state is formally transfered to the Diwan keeping the Zamindar and similar important personalities as witnesses. Kunwar amavasya is the first day of Dussera. On the night of the first day of the festival, the customary transfer of control takes place. A mystique characteristics of this ceremony is that before handing over the power to the Diwan, a girl who is believed to have possessed the spiritual powers is asked for permission. This girl is seen with a wooden sword and stands in a warlike posture. The second day of dussera is called pratipada which is followed by aarti and salami. On the ninth day, the Raja of Bastar welcomes goddess Danteshwari who comes to the entrance of the city in a doli or palanquin. The tenth day of the festival is called Dussera when the Raja organises a darbar where people come and present their requests. Also aarti ceremony is held on the last day of Dussera. The Dussera festival is a famous event of India. But the Dussera of Bastar is completely different from the commonly known festival of the country. Bastar Dussera celebrate the divine bliss of goddess Danteshwari who is the revered deity of all the existing tribes of Chhattisgarh.