FESTIVALS OF CHHATTISGARH

EK BHARAT, SHRESHTHA BHARAT

BASTAR DUSSEHRA

 Dussehra in Bastar, is different from other places. Instead of

rejoicing over the killing of Ravana, the tribal celebrate
Dussehra as a congregation of Devi Maoli and all her sisters.
 It is the unique cultural trait of Chhattisgarh. Celebrated by the
local people of the state with sufficient vigor, the festival of
Dussehra connotes to the supreme power of goddess
Danteswari.
THE GONCHA FESTIVAL

 The Goncha Festival is a tribal festival that is marked by a lot of joy merry
making.
 About Goncha Festival The Goncha Festival is additionally prevalently known
as the Chariot Festival presumably in light of the fact that it is commended
when the Hindus observe Rath Yatra. It show also showcases the inimittable
tribal culture.
 Jagadalpur of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh is the place where the Goncha
Festival is celebrated. Connoting a special fruit of Chhattisgarh, Goncha is
used as mock bullet by the tribes of the state who celebrate the festival in July.
 The lively and excited happiness that denotes the Goncha Festival in
Chhattisgarh is momentous.
MAGHI PURNIMA
 Maghi Punni is celebrated at a time when winter starts fading
and spring begins to make its way into Chhattisgarh. The
festival is celebrated every year on the day of magh purnima or
the full moon night in the month of Magh according to the
Hindi lunar calendar.
 On the occasion of Maghi Purnima which marks the birth
anniversary of Satnami Guru Ghasi Das, Panthi dance is
performed by the tribal community of Chhattisgarh. One of the
favorite past time of the Satnamis, Panthi dance is enacted
with tremendous excitement among the natives.
THE HARELI FESTIVAL
1. The Hareli festival is one of the popular festivals of Chhattisgarh.
The festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. The word
'Hareli' is derived from the Hindi word 'Haryali' meaning greenery.
It is mainly a festival celebrated by the various communities of
farmer in the month of Shravan.
2. It is celebrated on the new moon day of month. It marks the
opening of the sacred month. Hareli festival is a festival of crop
focusing on the monsoon of a year. The Goddess ‘Kutki Dai’ is the
reigning deity worshipped in this festival for getting good crops.
3. Hareli festival is of special importance among the GOND TRIBES.
4. It is also marked by playing 'Gedi'. It is a play where small children
mount on bamboo sticks and walk round the fields.
KESHKAL ADVENTURE FESTIVAL
 On December 17, 2021, the three-day Keshkal Adventure Festival started
at Tatamari tourism area located in Keshkal, Kondagaon district of
Chhattisgarh. In this adventure festival, travel bloggers and tourists from all
corners of the state including Karnataka, West Bengal were welcomed
according to the tribal tradition.
 Keshkal is famous for its natural resources, picturesque waterfalls and unique
tribal culture throughout the state as well as across the country.
 Tourists were shown various viewpoints, waterfalls, caves, unique flora and
prehistoric rock paintings located in Manjhingarh. Tourists were overwhelmed
by the glimpse of prehistoric rock paintings and primitive tribal culture.

Through this festival, the district administration is trying to identify it in the
tourism map by developing the tourism potential available in the district.
NATIONAL TRIBAL DANCE FESTIVAL OF
CHHATTISGARH
 The dance festival of Chhattisgarh, as part of the tourism
development plan of the state, was inaugurated by Chief
Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren and Chief Minister of
Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel on October 28 at Science
College ground in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. Earlier,
Chhattisgarh Tourism Board released in a statement that the
three-day dance festival will kickstart from October 28 and will
go on for the next three days. The festival will be held in the
same ground till November 1.