Bastar Dussehra: President Murmu in Jagdalpur

President Droupadi Murmu attended and addressed a public programme in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, on 23 October 2026 on the occasion of Bastar Dussehra, the President’s Secretariat said through PIB.

Bastar Dussehra: President Droupadi Murmu at the Bastar Dussehra programme in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh — President Droupadi Murmu at the Bastar Dussehra programme in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

What President Murmu said about Bastar Dussehra

The President said Bastar Dussehra is a vibrant symbol of Chhattisgarh’s cultural pride and collective faith. The way the entire community takes part in the festival is truly extraordinary, she said, and its various rituals foster a deep sense of connection and kinship among different sections of society. Before the public programme, she interacted with the local Manjhi and Chalki in the Muriya Darbar, the traditional assembly held during the festival. She also visited the Rangoli and Dussehra exhibition in Jagdalpur. Earlier in the day, the President offered prayers at the Maa Danteshwari Temple in Jagdalpur, PIB said. The Secretariat also released the text of her speech. The Muriya Darbar is a meeting at which the President heard from local community representatives, and the exhibition displayed rangoli and Dussehra-related work.

Key Facts

Date: 23 October 2026
Place: Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh
Events: public programme, Muriya Darbar, Rangoli and Dussehra exhibition
Temple visit: Maa Danteshwari Temple
Goal cited: Viksit Bharat by 2047

“Bastar Dussehra serves as a vibrant symbol of Chhattisgarh's cultural pride and collective faith.”
— President Droupadi Murmu, as reported by PIB

Jagdalpur and the end of Naxal violence

President Murmu said Chhattisgarh had long endured the scourge of Naxalism. Through the coordinated efforts of the central and state governments, she said, the region has been freed from the menace of Naxal violence and is now advancing rapidly on the path of progress. She was happy to note that initiatives to give financial support to tribal entrepreneurs and connect them with markets have recently been accelerated. She expressed confidence that these efforts would prove instrumental in reaching the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047 through equitable and inclusive development. Her remarks linked the cultural celebration in Bastar with the wider development agenda for the tribal region. She said the faster flow of funds to tribal entrepreneurs, together with links to markets, would help local people benefit directly from the region’s growth. The President also spoke about inclusive development reaching every section of society.

Lessons from tribal communities

The President said tribal communities worship nature, which gives life. In the journey of development, she said, people should draw valuable lessons from the nature-nurturing lifestyle of tribal communities, and she stressed the importance of preserving and nurturing nature. The visit came a day after she attended Nuakhai-linked events in Raipur, which TrendDesh reported on 23 October. Bastar Dussehra is known for its long duration and its rituals centred on the local deity, Maa Danteshwari, rather than on the Ramayana story told elsewhere in India. The President’s visit placed the festival and the region’s tribal heritage in the national spotlight this week.

Why It Matters: The President linked a major tribal festival to the region's recovery from Naxal violence and to support for tribal entrepreneurs.

Source: PIB, President's Secretariat, 23 Oct 2026 · President of India