In short: Bastar Dussehra is one of the world’s longest festivals — running about 75 days in the tribal Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. It is not about Rama and Ravana but honours the region’s presiding goddess, Ma Danteshwari. The main public rituals fall around Vijayadashami, 20 October 2026.

Unlike the Dussehra celebrated across most of India, Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh has no Ravana Dahan. This unique, largely tribal festival — one of the longest in the world at around 75 days — is a celebration of Goddess Danteshwari, the kuldevi of the erstwhile Bastar kingdom, and of the region’s Adivasi heritage.

When is Bastar Dussehra 2026?

Bastar Dussehra begins weeks before the mainstream Dussehra and continues past it. Its most famous public phases — the great chariot (Rath) processions and the Muria Durbar — fall in the days around Vijayadashami, Tuesday 20 October 2026. Because the ritual calendar is fixed locally each year, confirm exact dates with the Danteshwari temple and the Bastar district administration. See our Dussehra & Vijayadashami 2026 guide for the pan-India dates.

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What makes Bastar Dussehra unique

  • Goddess Danteshwari, not Ravana: the festival centres on the tribal mother goddess rather than the Rama–Ravana story.
  • A ~75-day span: a sequence of distinctive rituals unfolds over more than two months.
  • Named rites: Kachan Gaadi (seeking the goddess’s permission), Jogi Bithai (a penance vigil), the towering wooden Rath Yatra pulled through Jagdalpur, the Muria Durbar (assembly of tribal headmen), and Ohadi (the farewell) — each with deep Adivasi significance.
  • Community & heritage: hundreds of village deities are invited, making it a grand congregation of Bastar’s tribal communities.

Experiencing it respectfully

  • If visiting Jagdalpur, follow local guidance and respect the sacred, community nature of the rites.
  • Photograph respectfully and only where permitted.
  • Check current schedules and travel advisories for the Bastar region before planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Bastar Dussehra 2026?

Bastar Dussehra runs about 75 days; its main public rituals (Rath Yatra, Muria Durbar) fall around Vijayadashami, Tuesday 20 October 2026. Exact ritual dates are set locally — confirm with the Danteshwari temple/Bastar administration.

Why is Bastar Dussehra different from normal Dussehra?

It has no Ravana Dahan. It honours Goddess Danteshwari, the kuldevi of the Bastar region, and celebrates Adivasi heritage through unique rituals over roughly 75 days.

Which goddess is worshipped in Bastar Dussehra?

Ma Danteshwari, the presiding goddess of Bastar (a Shakti Peetha tradition), around whom the entire festival revolves.

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