Will HM Shah Attend the Bastar Dussehra Festival on October 4?

Raipur/New Delhi, Sep 20 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to join the Bastar Dussehra festival this year after receiving a formal invitation to participate in this historic celebration, renowned for its cultural richness and longevity in India.

On September 19, Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap met with HM Shah in New Delhi, extending the invitation on behalf of the Bastar Dussehra Committee and the Manjhi-Chalaki community, who play a pivotal role in the festival's traditional practices.

During their discussion, HM Shah was gifted a sacred image of Maa Danteshwari, the esteemed deity of Bastar, representing the spiritual significance of the occasion.

HM Shah shared this moment on his X handle, expressing, “Bastar, now liberated from Naxalism and embracing a peaceful path, is celebrating its festivals with renewed enthusiasm. I have been honored to receive an invitation for the 75-day-long Muria Darbar, a key highlight of the Bastar Dussehra festivities.

“This extraordinary event serves as a living representation of the region's rich tribal culture and heritage. I eagerly anticipate participating in this celebration and witnessing the vibrant traditions that embody Bastar's identity.”

Reports indicate that HM Shah has accepted the invitation and plans to visit Bastar on October 4.

His agenda includes attending the Muria Darbar at Sirhasar Bhavan in Jagdalpur, where he will engage with tribal representatives and assess progress on Mission 2026, a vital campaign aimed at eradicating Naxalism from the region.

The invitation and HM Shah’s expected visit have sparked excitement throughout Bastar, with hopes that his involvement will draw national attention to the region’s cultural legacy and development needs.

The Bastar Dussehra Committee has also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the festival's increasing significance on the national platform.

The Bastar Dussehra, celebrated in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, extends over 75 days and is deeply entrenched in tribal customs and rituals that date back over 600 years.

In contrast to the mainstream Dussehra, which honors Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, Bastar Dussehra focuses on the veneration of local deities, particularly Maa Danteshwari, and functions as a forum for tribal communities to express their concerns through ceremonial gatherings like the Muria Darbar.

This year's festivities are anticipated to be historic, marking the first time a Union Home Minister will partake in the Muria Darbar, a traditional tribal council where villagers can directly present their grievances and recommendations to leaders and officials.

HM Shah's presence is viewed as a significant outreach gesture to the tribal heartland, especially concerning ongoing development and anti-Naxal initiatives in the area.