Bastar Dussehra, or Jagdalpur Dussehra, is a vibrant celebration in Chhattisgarh. Lasting for 75 days, it's one of the longest festivals globally, dating back to the 13th century during King Purushottam Dev's reign. Unlike other Dussehra celebrations, it doesn't commemorate Lord Rama's victory over Ravana; instead, it honours the local deity, Goddess Danteshwari Devi. People from different tribal backgrounds don colourful traditional attire and fill the streets with energy, dance, and folk music. The festival's highlight is a grand, beautifully adorned chariot pulled by up to 400 people.
The festivities began on October 15 this year and will continue for 75 days. However, as per the Hindu calendar, the festivities kick off in Shravan (usually around late July) during the waning moon phase and carry on until the 13th day of the waxing moon in the month of Ashwin (typically between August and October), stretching the festival for 107 days.
Unlike most festivals run by government departments or private organisers, Bastar Dussehra is organised by the Raj family of Bastar. The streets of Jagdalpur come alive with energy and excitement as people don vibrant traditional clothing, dance, and play drums.
A massive two-tiered chariot is crafted by skilled carpenters and pulled through the streets by up to 400 individuals. The last ten days of the festival are particularly remarkable, featuring numerous tribal rituals and culminating in the Pushp-Rath Parikrama and Bheetar Raini celebrations.
There are plenty of tourist attractions to explore in and around Jagdalpur. Some prominent ones include Chitrakoot Falls, Tirathgarh Falls, and Kotumsar Caves. There are also beautiful temples like Danteshwari Temple, Maveli Temple and Jagannath Temple, signifying the region's rich cultural heritage. Other places of interest include Kailash Caves and Kanger Valley National Park.
Jagdalpur has an airport under the aegis of DRDO, Air Force, BSF, and CRPF. You can avail of plane and chopper services here. The main Chhattisgarh airport is in Raipur, 300 km away, with connections to major cities like Bhopal, Indore, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. For those travelling via road, Jagdalpur has regular bus services operating daily on the well-connected NH 30 highway. As for the railway route, Jagdalpur is well-connected to Vishakapatnam and Raipur.