Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh is not just a festival. It’s a 75-day long celebration of indigenous traditions, tribal faith, and spiritual rituals that stand apart from mainstream Indian festivities. It is celebrated in the tribal heartland of Bastar, located in Chhattisgarh. Bastar Dussehra is one of the longest-running Dussehra festivals in the world. One such ritual od Bastar Dussehra is the Kachhangadi Puja. It is a captivating and spiritually charged tradition. It grants the royal family permission to commence Dussehra celebrations.
The rest of India, celebrate Dussehra for Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. Bastar Dussehra centers around the worship of goddess Danteshwari and over 600 local deities. It is deeply revered by the local tribal communities. This is including the Murias, Madias, Gonds, and Halbas. The festival integrates ancient rituals, sacred journeys, and symbolic acts of devotion.
Divine Request for Celebration
Kachhangadi Puja- Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh
This Puja is an ancient and sacred Bastar Dussehra ritual. Here a virgin tribal girl lies on a swing made of thorny Bel vines. This is to invoke the blessings of Kachhan Devi, the guardian deity of the region. This powerful act of devotion symbolizes the permission granted by the goddess for the commencement of the Dussehra festivities.
This year, the ritual was solemnly performed on the evening of 21st September. At Bhangaram Chowk, located in the heart of Jagdalpur, Bastar.
The Role of the Virgin Girl: A Living Medium of the Goddess
In 2025, 10-year-old Pihu Das, a girl from the Panika (Panka) tribe, performed this revered ritual. It was for the fourth consecutive year. The spirit of Kachhan Devi descends upon a virgin girl, the spirit of Kachhan Devi descends upon a virgin girl. This is on the day of Ashwin Amavasya (new moon). She is from the Panka community, transforming her into a living embodiment of the deity.
Pihu, lying on a bed of thorns, grants symbolic approval on behalf of the goddess. This act is not just ceremonial. It’s a sacred moment of connection between the tribal communities, their gods, and the royal family of Bastar.
Historical and Mythological Significance of Kachhan Devi
Kachhangadi Puja- Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh
As per oral legends preserved by the Bastar royal family. Kachhan Devi and her sister Raila Devi were once princesses of the royal household. They chose to end their lives under mysterious and tragic circumstances. Over time, they were deified by the tribal population and later worshipped as powerful war goddesses.
Kamalchand Bhanjdeo, a member of the Bastar royal family. He elaborates that on this specific day, the goddess arrives upon the chosen girl to offer divine sanction for the Dussehra festival to begin. Once the goddess’s approval is received, the Raj Parivar (royal family) returns to the palace. And the rest of the Dussehra rituals commence with their full participation.
Ceremonial Gathering at Bhangaram Chowk
Kachhangadi Puja- Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh
The Kachhangadi ceremony draws not just the locals but also tribal leaders. Maanjhis (village heads), Chalkis (deputies), priests, and members of the Dussehra committee, along with government representatives. Together, they witness and validate the divine permission granted by the goddess, turning the occasion into a spiritually charged public event.
The gurus and mothers of the tribe chant Dhanakuli songs, traditional melodies invoking protection, blessings, and divine presence. The community collectively prays for peace, prosperity, and a hurdle-free Dussehra season. The royal family remains present throughout, a gesture of respect toward tribal traditions and their spiritual governance.
Bastar Dussehra: A Festival of Faith and Tribal Unity
Kachhangadi Puja: A Sacred Tribal Ritual of Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh
Post the Kachhangadi Puja, the 75-day Bastar Dussehra takes its full form. It encompasses processions of chariots, worship of tribal deities. Also to add wooden log fetching from remote forests, ceremonial horse and elephant parades, and the immersion of the Danteshwari idol.
With over 600 tribal deities worshipped across the region, the festival is a living representation of Adivasi cosmology. This is respect for nature, and matriarchal worship traditions. Each ritual is rooted in ancestral belief systems, passed down through generations and performed with utmost devotion.
Celebrating the Soul of Chhattisgarh
The Kachhangadi Puja is more than a ritual. It’s a profound spiritual act that embodies the relationship between the tribal communities of Bastar, their gods, and the natural world. It reinforces the idea that even in modern times, the roots of indigenous spirituality remain deeply entrenched and celebrated.
Bastar Dussehra continues to gain international attention. Rituals like Kachhangadi Puja remind us of India’s rich tribal heritage. How India’s diverse belief systems, and the importance of preserving these ancient cultural expressions.
