A pledge to include the 75-day festival in UNESCO’s cultural heritage list, Balram Manjhi becomes the new vice-president of the Dussehra Committee.
The world-famous 75-day Bastar Dussehra festival 2026, a unique confluence of historical, religious and cultural traditions, will be celebrated this year too with full grandeur, faith and traditional dignity. An important meeting of the Bastar Dussehra Committee was held on Tuesday in the Prerna Room of the Collectorate regarding the preparations for the festival, puja rituals, security arrangements, financial management and various events. The meeting was chaired by Bastar MP and Dussehra Committee Chairman Shri Mahesh Kashyap.
Present in the meeting were Mr. Kamalchand Bhanjdev of Bastar royal family, Collector Mr. Akash Chikhara, Superintendent of Police Mr. Shalabh Sinha, District Panchayat CEO Mr. Tanmay Khanna, Jiya Baba, priest of Maa Danteshwari from Dantewada, along with all the Manjhi-Chalaki, members-members, priests, administrative officers and members of the Temple State Committee.
- Balram Manjhi was not elected unopposed, but by a majority.
The meeting began with formalities. Following this, elections were held for the position of Vice President of the Bastar Dussehra Committee. Mr. Biro Manjhi of Bacheli Pargana proposed the name of Mr. Arjun Manjhi, while Mr. Samund Manjhi of Sonabal Pargana proposed the name of Mr. Balram Manjhi. Members voted by show of hands, and by a clear majority, Mr. Balram Manjhi was declared the new Vice President of the Bastar Dussehra Committee.
Newly elected Vice President Shri Balram Manjhi gave suggestions regarding further improving the arrangements at Devsrai and other important places.
- Not just a festival, but a unique cultural heritage of the world
Addressing the meeting, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Dussehra Committee, Mr. Mahesh Kashyap, stated that Bastar Dussehra is not merely a religious festival, but a symbol of social harmony, public participation, and the world’s unique cultural heritage. He urged the NMDC management to provide permanent financial support of at least 1.5 crore rupees annually under the CSR fund to further strengthen the festival’s arrangements.
He stated that positive discussions have taken place with Union ministers regarding the promotion of Bastar Dussehra nationally and internationally. The MP stated that maintaining the originality and traditional nature of this unique 75-day festival is everyone’s collective responsibility.
He stressed on not allowing parallel events during the festival period, ensuring necessary arrangements at the places of worship and providing safety railings and proper infrastructure at the major places of worship.
- A common resolve to include it in the UNESCO cultural heritage list
Shri Kamalchand Bhanjdev, a member of the Bastar royal family and a worshiper of the soil, shed light on the historical background of Bastar Dussehra, stating that this tradition, which has been ongoing since 1423, is even older than the Mysore and Kullu Dussehra. He reiterated the collective effort and shared resolve to include Bastar Dussehra in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring special cleanliness at the sites and routes associated with Mawali Parghav, and ensuring proper arrangements for the respectful arrival of the deities and Anga Dev. He also urged the Majhi-Chalaki to wear traditional attire and turbans during the festival.
Describing the contribution of members as important, Shri Bhanjdev also placed a proposal before the Dussehra Committee to increase the monthly honorarium of the members.
- A budget of Rs 1.21 crore is proposed.
At the meeting, the secretary of the Dussehra Committee and the Tehsildar proposed a budget of 12.1 million rupees for the Bastar Dussehra festival. They informed the committee members about the various rituals and related arrangements to be performed during the festival.
The meeting also discussed issues related to places of worship, routes, shrines, cleanliness, drinking water, lighting, security, and convenience for devotees. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring the successful event with modern facilities and improved administrative coordination while maintaining the festival’s unique traditions.
- The administration is ready for a peaceful and orderly event.
Collector Mr. Akash Chhikara and Superintendent of Police Mr. Shalabh Sinha shared their views on the need for administrative preparations and better coordination between various departments to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and grand Bastar Dussehra festival. They emphasized the need to complete necessary arrangements on time at all major festival sites and maintain effective security and traffic management.
The Majhi-Chalaki, priests, members, and committee members present at the meeting also offered suggestions regarding various puja rituals and arrangements related to the event. Thus, the meeting extensively discussed the framework for organizing the 2026 festival in a grand and dignified manner, combining the historical traditions of Bastar Dussehra, public participation, religious faith, and modern administrative systems.