Lakhanpur Dances to the Beat of the Mandar at Karma Mahotsav

Chhattisgarh Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal (centre-right) joins folk artists with a mandar drum at Karma Mahotsav, held at Saksharta Mini Stadium in Lakhanpur on 11 November 2026. Photo: primelookindia.com via CG/DPR.

Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal joins the dancers and honours the winning teams at the block-level tribal folk dance festival.

Key Highlights

• Twelve dance teams from the Turna, Korja, Losga and Kevra sectors performed at Lakhanpur’s Saksharta Mini Stadium.
• Jai Shiv Sharda Karma Party of Parsodi Kala won the Karma dance competition, with Adivasi Karma Dal of Piparkhar finishing second.
• Shaila Party of Taraju won the folk dance competition held under the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Lok Kala Mahotsav.
• The first-place teams will represent Lakhanpur block at the district-level competition.

Raipur: The beat of the mandar and the sound of Karma songs filled Lakhanpur’s Saksharta Mini Stadium on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, as 12 teams gathered for the block-level Karma Mahotsav. Held as part of Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah, the festival brought together tribal folk dancers from four sectors. Chhattisgarh Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal, the chief guest, joined the performers in a Karma dance and later presented awards to the winning teams.

Artists dressed in traditional attire performed to folk songs and the rhythm of the mandar, a traditional drum. Teams from Turna, Korja, Losga and Kevra took part, with local residents gathering at the stadium to watch the performances.

Agrawal calls for passing tribal traditions to the next generation

Karma dancers form a broad circle at Lakhanpur’s Saksharta Mini Stadium during the block-level folk dance festival on 11 November 2026. Photo: primelookindia.com via via CG/DPR.

Addressing the gathering, Agrawal said the folk arts, culture and traditions of tribal communities were a vital part of Chhattisgarh’s heritage. He called for a shared effort to preserve them and pass them on to younger generations.

The minister said festivals such as Karma Mahotsav give artists a public stage to perform the songs and dances they have learnt in their communities. He congratulated the participants and wished the winning teams well as they prepare to represent Lakhanpur at the district level.

Parsodi Kala and Taraju teams advance to district competition

Folk artists perform in traditional attire as spectators gather around the dance area at Karma Mahotsav in Lakhanpur on 11 November 2026. Photo: primelookindia.com via CG/DPR.

Jai Shiv Sharda Karma Party of Parsodi Kala took first place in the Karma dance competition, followed by Adivasi Karma Dal of Piparkhar. Shaila Party of Taraju finished first in the folk dance competition held under the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Lok Kala Mahotsav.

Lakhanpur Janpad Panchayat President Shashikala Vikram Singh, Nagar Panchayat President Savitri Dinesh Sahu, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ramraj Singh and Janpad Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Khushboo Shastri attended the festival, along with other public representatives, officials and local residents.