Bastar Pandum 2026 will be a world-class cultural event
Raipur, January 2, 2026 / With the objective of preserving and promoting the rich tribal culture, art, folk traditions, and heritage of the Bastar region, ‘Bastar Pandum’ will be organized in 2026 in a grand and attractive manner, similar to the previous year.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai released the logo and theme song of Bastar Pandum at the temple premises with the blessings of Maa Danteshwari in Dantewada.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Sai extended his best wishes for the New Year and said that Bastar Pandum is a strong platform to showcase Bastar’s cultural heritage. He said that the launch of Bastar Pandum 2026 is happening today from this holy premises of Maa Danteshwari. The logo and theme song of Bastar Pandum 2026 have been released here. Bastar Pandum is not just a festival, but the soul of Bastar. It is a vibrant platform for our rich tribal culture, folk traditions, art, and heritage.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the true identity of Chhattisgarh lies in its tribal traditions. We live these traditions and culture through dance, songs, crafts, cuisine, forest medicines, and deities. Last year we started Bastar Pandum. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah also graced the concluding ceremony with his presence. This year we are inviting the President, Union Home Minister, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, and ambassadors of various countries appointed in India. The enthusiasm and fervor of the people of Bastar for Bastar Pandum last time was unprecedented. This time we are making it grander so that the heritage here can establish its identity not only nationally but globally.
The Chief Minister announced that the number of categories in the Bastar Pandum competitions has been increased from seven to twelve this year. These include tribal dance, songs, drama, musical instruments, costumes, ornaments, worship methods, as well as crafts, painting, traditional cuisine-beverages, regional literature, and forest medicines. This time, the Bastar Pandum competition will be organized in three phases.
Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that it is the resolve of our government to preserve Bastar’s culture and pass it on to the new generation. Bastar will no longer be just a center of culture but will also be a symbol of development through peace, prosperity, and tourism. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the double-engine government is taking Bastar to new heights. This festival signifies that Bastar will now be recognized by creation and celebration, not by conflict.
He urged the people of Bastar and all artist brothers and sisters to enhance Bastar’s glory through their art and participate in large numbers in the competitions organized under Bastar Pandum.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma said that ‘Pandum’ means festival. Various festivals (Pandums) are celebrated in Bastar from time to time to increase happiness. The tradition has been to start any festival with the blessings of the mother. In this context, the Bastar Pandum is being started from the temple premises of Maa Danteshwari. Bastar is full of rich culture. Bastar Pandum 2026 is being organized incorporating the art, crafts, dance, music, and cuisine of the tribes residing here. He said that efforts to establish peace in Bastar are succeeding. The Naxal menace will be eradicated by March 2026.
Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap said that the art, culture, and traditions of Bastar are a matter of pride. Efforts are being made through Bastar Pandum to establish this rich cultural identity at a global level. In ancient times, Lord Rama spent his exile in the Dandakaranya region. The government has taken the initiative to preserve cultural diversity in such a holy region.
Culture Minister Shri Rajesh Agarwal stated that for the second consecutive year, the government is organizing Bastar Pandum to promote and preserve the various art forms of the Bastar region, which is rich in cultural heritage. Competitions are being organized in twelve categories this year.
During the event, Chief Minister Shri Sai interacted with senior tribal leaders (Manjhi, Chalki, Gayta), priests, heads of tribal communities, and Padma awardees at the temple premises. Bastar MP Shri Mahesh Kashyap and Dantewada MLA Shri Chaitram Atami also addressed the program. During this, the traditional leaders Manjhis and community heads of Bastar also expressed their gratitude to the government for organizing Bastar Pandum.
It is noteworthy that Bastar Pandum 2026 is proposed to be organized in three phases from January 10, 2026, to February 5, 2026. Under this, Janpad level programs will be held from January 10 to 20 in the Bastar division, district level programs from January 24 to 29, and divisional level programs from February 2 to 6. The performances and competitions will be held in categories including Bastar tribal dance, songs, drama, musical instruments, costumes and ornaments, worship methods, crafts, painting, tribal beverages, traditional cuisine, regional literature, and forest medicine. Discussions were also held regarding inviting Indian ambassadors working in various countries to this year’s Bastar Pandum, so that they can be made aware of Bastar’s unique cultural heritage, traditions, and tribal life. It was also decided to invite high-ranking officers from the Bastar division, officers selected in UPSC and CGPSC, doctors, engineers, senior public representatives, and tribal dance troupes from various states of the country.
The provision for participant registration is proposed to be made through both online and offline modes this year, to ensure the participation of a maximum number of artists and groups. It is noteworthy that programs will be organized with the objective of preserving and promoting the art, crafts, festivals, cuisine, dialects, ornaments, traditional musical instruments, dance-songs, drama, regional literature, forest medicine, and deities of the Bastar region.
Under this, the event will be held in three phases across 1,885 Gram Panchayats, 32 Janpad Panchayats, 8 Municipalities, 12 Nagar Panchayats, and 1 Municipal Corporation area in the seven districts of Bastar division. The Department of Culture and Official Language has been nominated as the nodal department for this event.
Present on the occasion were MP Shri Mahesh Kashyap, Dantewada MLA Shri Chaitram Atami, Bastar IG Shri Sundarraj P., Secretary of the Culture Department Shri Rohit Yadav, DIG Shri Kamal Lochan Kashyap, Collector Shri Devesh Kumar Dhruv, Superintendent of Police Shri Gaurav Rai, along with other public representatives and officials.
