Raipur/New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will celebrate the Dussehra Festival in Bastar this year as he has been formally invited to participate in the historic Buster Dussehra Festival, one of the longest running and culturally rich ceremonies in India.
On September 19, Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap met HM Shah in New Delhi and extended the invitation from Bastar Dussehra Committee and Manjhi-Chalaki community, who play a central role in traditional action of the festival.
During the meeting, HM Shah was presented with a sacred image of Maa Danteshwari, which symbolizes the spiritual essence of the revered deity of Buster, the event.
HM Shah shared the moments on his X handle and wrote, “Bastar, now celebrating the path of peace free from the grip of Naxalism and celebrating his festivals with a renewed soul and joy. I have been honored with an invitation to attend the 75-day long Muriya Durbar.
“This remarkable event is in the form of a living will for the rich tribal culture and heritage of the region. I look forward to being a part of this festival and look at the vibrant traditions that define the identity of Bastar.”
According to reports, HM Shah has accepted the invitation and is going to visit Bastar on 4 October.
His journey program involves attending the Muriya Durbar at Sarshar Bhawan in Jagdilpur, where he will interact with tribal representatives and review the progress on Mission 2026, which is a central campaign, which aims to eliminate Naxalism from the region.
The invitation and anticipated visit of HM Shah have created enthusiasm in the settlement, with the hope that their engagement will pay national attention to the cultural heritage and developmental needs of the region.
The Bastar Dussehra Committee has also given an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which indicates the increasing prominence of the festival on the national stage.
Bastar is celebrated in Dussehra, Jagdilpur, Chhattisgarh, spreads for more than 75 days and it lies deeply in tribal customs and rituals which is more than 600 years.
Unlike the mainstream Dussehra, which reminds of the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, Bastar Dussehra is dedicated to the worship of local deities, especially Maa Danteshwari, and acts as a platform for tribal communities to overcome his concerns through formal ceremonies like the Muria Durbar.
This year’s celebration is expected to be historic, as this is the first time that a Union Home Minister, a traditional tribal council will participate in the Muraiya Durbar, where rural leaders and officials directly submit their complaints and suggestions.
The presence of HM Shah is seen as an important gesture of outreach for tribal Hartland, especially in terms of the ongoing development and anti-Naxal initiatives in the region.
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