Bastar Dussehra Begins July 24th: Dates and Details of Key Religious Events

The world-famous Bastar Dussehra festival will commence on July 24th this year and continue until October 7th. This unique festival is a remarkable blend of faith, tradition, and tribal culture, drawing a large number of visitors from across the country and abroad to Bastar. The Dussehra celebrations will begin with the Pat Jatra ritual on July 24th, involving the ceremonial bringing of a sacred wood to be worshiped at the Danteshwari Temple complex. This wood, known as Turru Khotla, is used to create tools for the chariot construction. Following this tradition, the process of building the chariot begins, with wood being gathered from the forests.

According to the head priest of the Danteshwari Temple, this tradition has been observed since the princely era and is still celebrated with complete devotion and adherence to customs. It is also believed that this tradition began when Purushottam Dev arrived in Bastar from Jagannath Puri with the title of Rathpati.

Key Religious Events of Bastar Dussehra:

August 29 – Bel Jatra ritualSeptember 5 – Dheri Garai Puna ritualSeptember 21 – Kachhangadi PujaSeptember 22 – Kalash Sthapana PujaSeptember 23 – Jogi Bithai PunaSeptember 24 – Navratri Puja ritualSeptember 29 – Phool Rath ParikramaSeptember 30 – Nisha Jatra Puna ritualOctober 1 – Jogi Uthai and Mavali Parghav Puja ritualOctober 2 – Bhitar Raini Puja ritualOctober 3 – Bahar Raini Puja ritualOctober 5 – Kachhan Jatra Puja ritual and Muriya DarbarOctober 6 – Kutumb Jatra Puja ritualOctober 7 – Dussehra concludes with the farewell of the Doli (palanquin).