The 75-day long Bastar Dussehra Fair is the largest cultural festival in the World -Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and BJP State President Kiran Singh Deo and other dignitaries welcoming Union Home Minister Amit Shah by garlanding him at Bastar Dussehra Festival held in Jagdalpur on Saturday October 4, 2025 -Photo Credit-CG/PR

In Shorts

*For years, some people have spread the misconception that Naxalism is a fight for development, but the entire Bastar has been deprived of development, and Naxalism is the root cause.

*On behalf of Modi ji, I want to assure that after March 31, 2026, Naxalites will not be able to stop Bastar’s development and the rights of its people.

*The people of Bastar should persuade children misled by Naxalism to give up their weapons and join the mainstream and participate in Bastar’s development.

*The Central and Chhattisgarh governments are dedicated to the development of Bastar and the entire Naxalite region.

*If anyone attempts to disturb the peace of Bastar with weapons, our armed forces and police will give a befitting reply.

*Bastar’s Dussehra, Bastar Olympics, its food, costumes, art, and musical instruments are not They have become a center of attraction not only in Bastar but throughout the world.

*From 1874 to the present, the Muria Darbar’s active participation, judicial system, concern for preserving tribal culture, and historical tradition of public dialogue are a global heritage.

*Bastar Dussehra and the Muria Darbar unite tribal people and bind the entire Bastar region together.

*The Rath Yatra of Goddess Danteshwari, which began in the 14th century, initiated a cultural awakening throughout the Bastar region.

*If 1.4 billion people embrace the concept of Swadeshi, no one can stop our India from becoming the world’s leading economic system.

Raipur: Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday October 4, 2025 addressed the Bastar Dussehra Festival held in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. Prior to this, Amit Shah visited and worshipped at the famous Danteshwari Temple. Several dignitaries, including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, were present on the occasion.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah addressing the Bastar Dussehra Festival in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on Saturday October 4, 2025-Photo Credit CG/PR.

In his address, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said that the world’s largest and unique Bastar Dussehra fair, which lasts for 75 days, is the largest cultural festival not only for the tribal community, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, or India, but also for the entire world.

Amit Shah said that during his darshan and puja of Maa Danteshwari today, he prayed that she empowers our security forces so that they can free the Bastar region from red terror by March 31, 2026. Shah said that for years, some people in Delhi have spread the misconception that Naxalism was born out of a fight for development, whereas the truth is that Naxalism is the root cause of Bastar’s lack of development. He said that today, every village in the country has access to electricity, drinking water, roads, bathrooms in every home, health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh, five kilograms of free grain, and the purchase of rice at Rs 3,100 per quintal. However, Bastar has lagged behind in this race for progress, Sahah added.

The Home Minister said that he wanted to assure on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that after March 31, 2026, Naxalites would neither be able to hinder the development of Bastar nor the rights of the people of Bastar. Amit Shah stated that the children of the Bastar region who have strayed and joined Naxalism are from local villages. Shah appealed to the people of Bastar to persuade these misguided children to give up their weapons and join the mainstream, so that they can participate in Bastar’s development.

Amit Shah transferring the money digitally to the accounts of women under the Mahatari Vandan Yojana-Pgoto Credit-CG/PR

The Union Home Minister stated that the Chhattisgarh government has developed the best surrender policy in the country. More than 500 people have surrendered in the last one month alone. He appealed to the Naxalites to surrender. Shah stated that in any village where Naxalism is completely eradicated, the Chhattisgarh government will provide ₹1 crore for the village’s development. Shah affirmed that Naxalism has benefited no one and that the problem has now been significantly reduced.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Central Government and the Chhattisgarh Government are fully committed to the development of all Naxal-affected areas, including Bastar, and have formulated attractive policies for this purpose. Prime Minister Modi has provided approximately ₹440,000 crore for Chhattisgarh’s development over the past 10 years. Chhattisgarh’s development is progressing at a rapid pace. He stated that industries are being established, educational institutions are being built, and health institutions are being developed. Small-scale industries are also being promoted, Home Minister stated.

Amit Shah stated that tribals from across the country will participate in the Bastar Olympics this year. He said that Bastar’s Pandum festival, food, clothing, art, and musical instruments have become a center of attraction not only in Bastar but throughout the world. Prime Minister Modi’s resolve is to preserve our culture, language, food, clothing, and musical instruments for centuries, not only in India but throughout the world. The Chhattisgarh government and the Government of India are committed to fulfilling this resolve.

The Union Home Minister stated that the active participation of the Muria Darbar in Bastar, the judicial system, the focus on preserving tribal culture, and the historical tradition of public dialogue, from 1874 to the present, are no less than a global heritage. He stated that the Muria Darbar is a source of inspiration and knowledge for the entire country.

Referring to the Swadeshi Mela organized by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has long emphasized Swadeshi. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch has been promoting Swadeshi as a mass movement for many years. Now, Modi has called on everyone to take a pledge that every household will use only products made in the country. He said that every businessman must pledge that foreign goods will not be available in their shops or shopping malls. Mr. Shah said that if the 1.4 billion population embraces this commitment to Swadeshi, no one can stop India from becoming the world’s leading economic power.

The Union Home Minister said that Modi recently provided significant relief to the mothers and sisters of the entire country, including Chhattisgarh, by providing substantial GST exemptions on 395 items. Almost all food items have been exempted from tax, and only five percent tax has been imposed on everyday items. He said that the country has never seen such a significant tax reduction as Modi has implemented. Furthermore, if we embrace the values ​​of Swadeshi, our country’s economy will receive unprecedented momentum. Mr. Shah said that more than 300 indigenous companies are participating in the Bastar Dussehra Festival. He said that the Swadeshi Walkathon has become an effective medium to give a new identity to the Swadeshi spirit. Today, the Swadeshi movement is gaining further momentum through Swadeshi fairs being organized across the country.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the 75-day long Bastar Dussehra, which runs from Shravan Amavasya to Ashwin Shukla Trayodashi, is a matter of pride, identity, and honor for all of us. He said that the Rath Yatra, which began in the 14th century, initiated a cultural awakening in the entire region. Shah said that 66 tribal and many non-tribal groups participate in the Rath Yatra of Maa Danteshwari. Amit Shah said that Bastar Dussehra and the Muria Darbar unite the tribals and bind the entire Bastar together.

The Union Home Minister said that the Modi government has launched several schemes in honor of the tribals. Prime Minister Modi has done a proud job by appointing Draupadi Murmu, a daughter of the tribal community, to the highest office in the country for the first time. He said that when Her Excellency Draupadi Murmu meets world heads of state, not only the tribal community but all of us are filled with pride. It is a matter of pride for all of us that a daughter from a poor family from Odisha has ascended to the highest position in democracy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Modi decided to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda as the Tribal Pride Year. His birth anniversary was established as Tribal Pride Day. Prime Minister Modi also approved more than 15,000 Prime Minister’s Housing Schemes in all seven districts of Bastar division for individuals who surrendered to Naxalism and for the families of those killed in Naxal violence.

Amit Shah said that Pandi Ram Mandavi and Hemchand Manjhi from Narayanpur district, and Ajay Kumar Mandavi from Kanker, have been honored with Padma awards. He said that on the occasion of the Bastar Dussehra festival, Rs 607 crore was distributed to 7 million Chhattisgarhi mothers as the 20th installment of the “Mahatari Vandan Yojana.” The Chief Minister’s Rural Bus Scheme was launched. This scheme has been implemented in the Bastar and Surguja divisions, covering 250 villages, Shah affirmed .