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The Bastar Dussehra festival that spans 77 days concludes on Sunday. The tradition has been continuing for the past 800 years and is considered among the world's longest festivals.
Bastar's 24th and present titular ruler, Kamal Chandra Bhanj Deo said, "Today, the 77-day-long Dussehra festival is ending. The mother goddess will return to her home to mark the end of this festival. We will bid adieu to her like a daughter. We pray to the mother goddess that her blessing continues to be upon us, the state, and the country." The Saras Mela, organised by the Bastar administration, was inaugurated in Jagdalpur, on October 12. Bastar Dussehra commences after performing 'Patjatra' rituals, according to which worship is offered to a log of saal tree. There is no tradition related to the killing of Ravana but it is celebrated in the tribal-dominated district as a festival of worshipping goddess Shakti. The festival in Bastar's division headquarters Jagdalpur is marked by the participation of tribal as well as other people in huge numbers. The committee members further informed that as per the tradition, the log, which is being worshipped, will be used to make a massive chariot. On this wooden chariot, the canopy of goddess 'Danteshwari' (the deity of Bastar) will be taken around the city. This 800-year-old tradition was started by the royal family here. During the time of the pandemic, the festival was not celebrated grandly but when otherwise it witnesses a massive turnout most of the years. (ANI)
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