CM Vishnu Deo Sai pays tribute to Nacha folk theatre pioneer Mandaraji

Key Takeaways

CM Vishnu Deo Sai posted a tribute to Dau Dular Singh Mandaraji on September 24, 2026 , the latter's death anniversary.

Mandaraji is recognised as the pioneer of Nacha , Chhattisgarh's traditional folk theatre form blending humour, music, and social commentary.

CM Sai credited Mandaraji with giving Chhattisgarh's folk culture and traditions 'a new identity' through his artistic practice.

The tribute reflects a broader pattern of the Sai government foregrounding Chhattisgarhi folk arts since taking office in December 2023 .

Chhattisgarh was carved out as a separate state in November 2000 , making cultural identity a relatively recent and active political project.

A quiet but deeply felt tribute arrived on Thursday morning from Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who paused to honour the man who gave the state's most distinctive folk theatre form its enduring voice — Dau Dular Singh Mandaraji, the pioneer of Nacha, on his death anniversary.

Posting in Hindi on September 24, 2026, CM Sai wrote: 'Respectful homage to Dau Dular Singh Mandaraji on his death anniversary. Through his devoted artistic practice, he gave a new identity to Chhattisgarh's folk culture and traditions. His contribution to preserving and advancing our rich cultural heritage will always be remembered.'

What Mandaraji built — and why Nacha matters

Nacha is a centuries-old Chhattisgarhi folk theatre tradition that weaves together earthy humour, social commentary, music, and vibrant performance — often performed overnight in open-air village settings. Dau Dular Singh Mandaraji is credited with elevating the form from village performance to a recognised, respected art, giving it a structure and a pride that outlasted his own lifetime. For a state whose distinct identity was formalised only with Chhattisgarh's formation in November 2000, figures like Mandaraji are not merely cultural footnotes — they are the bedrock on which a younger state builds its sense of self.

Sai's tribute in a pattern of cultural stewardship

Since assuming office in December 2023, CM Sai has consistently used official platforms to foreground Chhattisgarhi folk arts — a deliberate exercise in cultural identity-building for a state that is still relatively young on India's federal map. Tributes to regional artists on death anniversaries are a well-established part of this grammar of governance, signalling to folk artist communities and cultural heritage groups that the state's leadership sees their world as worth remembering. The call to 'preserve and advance' the heritage, in Sai's own words, also points forward — toward state cultural festivals and academy events where Nacha performances remain a centrepiece.

In a country where regional folk arts routinely lose ground to mainstream entertainment, a chief minister naming a practitioner by name on a death anniversary is a small but deliberate act of institutional memory. For Chhattisgarh's folk theatre community, it is the state saying: we have not forgotten.

Point of View

Which has existed for barely two and a half decades, they are an active project of identity consolidation. CM Sai's invocation of Mandaraji fits a broader BJP governance pattern of anchoring political legitimacy in local cultural pride, particularly in states with strong tribal and folk traditions. It also signals continued state patronage for folk arts at a time when traditional performance forms face mounting competition from digital entertainment. Whether the tribute translates into institutional support — funding, festivals, documentation — is the real measure of its weight.

NationPress

24 Sept 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Dau Dular Singh Mandaraji?

Dau Dular Singh Mandaraji was the pioneer of Nacha, Chhattisgarh's traditional folk theatre form, credited with giving regional performance traditions a structured identity and wider recognition.

What is Nacha folk theatre?

Nacha is a Chhattisgarhi folk theatre tradition combining humour, social commentary, music, and vibrant performance, historically staged in open-air village settings, often through the night.

Why did CM Vishnu Deo Sai post a tribute to Mandaraji?

CM Sai posted the tribute on Mandaraji's death anniversary, honouring his contribution to Chhattisgarhi folk culture and traditions and pledging to preserve the state's cultural heritage.

When did Vishnu Deo Sai become Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh?

Vishnu Deo Sai assumed office as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in December 2023 after the BJP won the state assembly elections.

When was Chhattisgarh formed as a separate state?

Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh and established as a separate state in November 2000, making it one of India's newer states.