World-Famous Bastar Dussehra to Begin Wednesday August 12 with Sacred Pat Jatra Ritual-By-Dhananjay Rathore

A glimpse of the world-famous Bastar Dussehra during an earlier celebration in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. The centuries-old festival, known for its distinctive tribal traditions and community participation, begins this year on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with the Pat Jatra ritual. Photo Credit: Mohit Kumar Montu/Wikimedia Commons

Key Highlights

• Bastar Dussehra 2026 begins: Wednesday, August 12
• Opening ritual: Pat Jatra
• Venue: Danteshwari Temple premises, Jagdalpur
• Duration: Around 75 days
• Dedicated to: Goddess Danteshwari and Bastar’s sacred traditions
• Major ceremonies: Deri Gadai, Kachan Gadi, Jogi Bithai, Rath Parikrama, Nisha Jatra, Bheetar Raini, Bahar Raini and Muria Darbar
• Formal conclusion: October 27 with the farewell of Mawali Mata’s Doli

The extraordinary 75-day celebration dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari will open on August 12, carrying forward centuries-old tribal traditions, rituals and community participation

One of India’s most distinctive cultural celebrations, the world-famous Bastar Dussehra, will begin on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with the traditional Pat Jatra ritual at the historic Danteshwari Temple premises in Jagdalpur.

Unlike Dussehra celebrations elsewhere in India, Bastar Dussehra does not centre on the burning of an effigy of Ravana or the conventional narrative of the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. It is deeply associated with Goddess Danteshwari, the revered deity of Bastar, and brings together the region’s tribal communities, traditional functionaries, priests and village deities in an extraordinary cycle of rituals extending over approximately 75 days. This distinctive character is also documented by the Bastar district administration.

Pat Jatra Opens the Sacred Journey

The festival will formally commence on the occasion associated with Hareli Amavasya through Pat Jatra, the ritual that marks the beginning of preparations for the celebrated Bastar Dussehra chariot.

The magnificent ceremonial chariot draws a large gathering during an earlier celebration of Bastar Dussehra in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, showcasing the distinctive traditions of the historic 75-day festival-Photo Credit: Mohit Kumar Montu/Wikimedia Commons

Traditional Manjhi-Chalki, Member-Memberin, priests, Patel, Naik-Paik and other sevaks are expected to participate in the opening ceremony.

An important element of Pat Jatra is connected with the wood traditionally known as Thurlu Khotla, associated with the preparation of implements used for constructing the massive ceremonial chariot.

According to the Bastar district administration’s account of the tradition, wood brought from the forest is ceremonially worshipped during Pat Jatra before the elaborate process leading to construction of the festival chariot gets underway.

The Bastar Dussehra Committee has invited traditional functionaries, villagers, devotees and citizens to participate in the opening ceremony.

75 Days of Rituals and Living Tribal Heritage

The opening Pat Jatra will be followed by a succession of elaborate rituals spread across September and October.

Devotees and local communities participate in an earlier Bastar Dussehra celebration in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. The festival dedicated to Maa Danteshwari is renowned for its unique tribal traditions and centuries-old rituals-Photo Credit: Mohit Kumar Montu/Wikimedia Commons

According to the programme announced for the 2026 celebration, Deri Gadai will be performed on September 24, followed by Kachan Gadi on October 10, Kalash Sthapana on October 11 and the traditional Jogi Bithai ritual on October 12.

From October 13 to 18, Navratri rituals and the ceremonial Rath Parikrama will be held every day.

The Bel Puja is scheduled for the morning of October 18, while Maha Ashtami and Nisha Jatra will be observed on October 19.

The following day, October 20, will witness Kumari Puja, Jogi Uthai and Mawali Parghav, adding another significant chapter to the elaborate ritual sequence.

Bheetar Raini, Bahar Raini and Historic Muria Darbar

Some of the most spectacular ceremonies will follow during the concluding phase.

Bheetar Raini, accompanied by Rath Parikrama, is scheduled for October 21, followed by Bahar Raini and Rath Parikrama on October 22.

Traditional celebrations come alive during an earlier edition of the world-famous Bastar Dussehra in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. This year’s 75-day festival begins on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with the sacred Pat Jatra ritual-Photo Credit: Mohit Kumar Montu/Wikimedia Commons

On October 23, the traditional Kachan Jatra will be held in the morning, followed in the afternoon by the historic Muria Darbar — one of the most recognised institutions associated with Bastar Dussehra.

The festivities will move towards their conclusion with Kutumb Jatra on October 24, which includes the ceremonial farewell to village deities who participate in the celebration.

Finally, on October 27, the traditional farewell ceremony for Mawali Mata’s Doli will formally bring the extraordinary festival cycle to a close.

A Dussehra Unlike Any Other

Bastar Dussehra’s significance lies not merely in its duration but in the way it has preserved the collective participation of Bastar’s communities across generations.

The enormous ceremonial chariot, arrival of local deities, tribal rituals and involvement of hereditary traditional functionaries transform Jagdalpur into a meeting ground of faith and indigenous cultural heritage.

It is precisely this character that distinguishes Bastar Dussehra from conventional Dussehra celebrations elsewhere. The Bastar district administration describes the festival as one of the region’s foremost traditional celebrations, beginning on Hareli Amavasya and continuing for 75 days.

For Bastar, therefore, August 12 will not simply mark the beginning of another festival.

With the first rituals of Pat Jatra, it will mark the renewal of a living tradition in which faith, forests, tribal society and centuries of cultural memory come together once again.

Dhananjay Rathore is Joint Director, Department of Public Relations, Government of Chhattisgarh.