Dussehra symbolizes the victory of good over evil, is celebrated with excitement across the country. On this day Lord Rama slaughtered Lankati Ravana and liberated Sita from his bondage. On this day, an idol of Ravana's effigy celebrates. But there is such a place in India where Dusshera is celebrated for 75 days but Ravan is not burnt. This unique Dussehra is celebrated in the tribal dominated area of Chhattisgarh in Bastar and is known as 'Bastar Dassehra'. This Dussehra fame is so much that tourists from different parts of the country, as well as from abroad, come to see it. Here the tribal Molly Mata (the original goddess of Bastar and the "elder sister" of Datteshwari, who is honored as the Goddess of the Kakatiya ruling family) and worshiping in the honor of all the other sisters of the Goddess. Hundreds of priests come in the Danteshwari temple of Jagdalpur sedan filled with flowers bring local gods and goddesses and travel through the city with great fanfare.
Bastar Dussehra is a 500 year old festival
15th century A.D led to an event which is responsible for the origin of Bastar Dussehra. The Kaktiya ruler (descendants of great Chalukya Dynasty ) King Purushottam Deo went to Jagannath Puri temple for worship and came back as ‘Rath-pati’ with a divine permission to mount on Chariot. From there, this trend continued up till yet. Now, it is a 500-year-old festival of Bastar. Earlier it was a Hindu festival, but later incorporated and assimilated many customs of local tribes.
It is believed that Lord Ram had spent ten years of his exile in Dandakaranya. Bastar region of Chhattisgarh was known in ancient times as Dandakaranya. But even then, the historical Dussehra Ram is not celebrated for the Lanka victory. Dussehra is worshiped by the special Goddess Danteshwari of Bastar. A grand chariot is prepared for them here, in this chariot, they are taken for their excursions during Navratri by placing their umbrella.
Festival is celebrated for 75 days
The beginning of Bastar Dussehra starts from the Hariyali Amavasya which falls in the month of Shravan (Savan). On this day, the first wood is brought from the forest to build chariots. This ritual is called Pat Jatra. This festival lasts for 75 days after Dussehra and ends on 13th day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwani, with the ritual of Muria Durbar. In this ritual, the Maharaj Durbar of Bastar listened to the problems of the public. This festival is the festival celebrated for the most part of the country.
Everyone's participation is important
Bastar Dussehra involves the participation of diverse tribes and castes, each of whom is assigned a specific task, which they continue to carry out 5 decades after monarchies were abolished in India. For example, to build the two-tiered chariot, carpenters come from Beda Umargaon village; the special, massive ropes are twined by the tribals of Karanji, Kesarpal and Sonabal villages; the smaller chariot is pulled by the youth of Kachorapati and Agarwara parganas; the larger chariot is pulled by the bison-horn marias of Killepal. Singing hymns at all rituals is the prerogative of mundas from Potanar village. The construction of the rath (chariot) is always exclusively done by the Savnra every year. The iron nails used in the construction of the wooden rath are always made by Lohars, blacksmiths. The ropes for dragging the rath are prepared and supplied by the member of the Parja tribe. The construction of the rath is supervised by the Dhakada. Before using the rath for the ceremony, it is always worshipped by the members of the Khaki caste.The chariot undoubtedly looks very primitive to an outsider. The swaying juggernaut, when it is pulled by 400+ strong mariyas, impresses upon an onlooker the strength of aboriginal faith.
Festival Shine Begins with Navratri
After the start of Navaratri, the chariot parikrama starts. On the first day, a young girl of the Mrigan caste, Kachan Devi is made. She is placed on a hinge of thorns. This tradition is called Kachhan Gadi. After this Kachan Devi is allowed to celebrate Bastar Dussehra. After getting permission, further traditions are played.
There is also a ritual of Jogi bithai in this festival, in which a jogi is placed after digging the pit in front of the statue of the Goddess. For nine days, Jogi can not rise from that pit, during this time he can eat fruits and milk products. Before the Jogi dithai, the goddess is sacrificed the fish of the Mangur species.
Chariot is a special attraction
The special attraction of Bastar Dussehra is the grand chariot prepared by the tribes by the tribals. Which is decorated with flowers and special clothes. Tribals use traditional techniques to build this chariot. With the help of no modern technology, this chariot is very strong. Joining Dussehra, tribals arrive from the corners of the Bastar region and pull the chariot. The charioteer of the mother Danteshwari is kept on the chariot, during the monarchy, the Maharaja of Bastar also used to ride in the chariot. From the very next day of Jogi Dithai, the flower chariot starts to run. Within the days of Dussehra, Rani's ritual is played out on the day of Rani and Ekadashi.
After completing the Rani's ritual outside, the Madiya tribesmen take tribal chariots to a place called Chumara kumdharkot. Different tribes of tribals were given responsibility for every ritual of Bastar Dussehra, thus every tribe becomes a part of it. But when Bastar Dussehra was celebrated for the first time, no work was given to the Madiya tribe, which made them angry and so they stole the chariot. The next day, the Maharaja of Bastar had to persuade him, he asked Maharaj to sit with him and eat food. The chariot was returned only after eating food. After this chariot theft became a part of tradition.
The Court of King is Continue Today
After redeeming the chariot from the Madia tribe, the umbrella of the Goddess is taken off the chariot the next day and is set back in the temple. After this, the Maharaj Darbar of Bastar is installed in the palace of Jagdalpur and hears the problems of the people. This is called 'Muriya Darbar'. The current Maharaja of Bastar is Kamal Chandra Bhanjdev, now in the Muria darbar, along with the king, CM of the state also listens to people's problems. With the Muria Durbar, Bastar Dushehra ends.
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