Latest news with #BastarDussehra
Time of India
06-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Compensation for cut: Tree plantation in Bastar for losing 100s of trees for chariot
Raipur: In a bid to balance tradition with sustainability, authorities in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region have begun planting saplings annually to compensate for the "hundreds of trees felled" each year to build the towering wooden chariot for the 75-day Bastar Dussehra, one of India's longest and most traditionally significant festivals. State wildlife board members and forest department on the local level have initiated the plantation, taking a cue from Jagannath Puri in Odisha, where thousands of saplings are planted annually to compensate for the timber used in 'Rath Yatra'. Speaking to TOI, Hemant Kashyap, a member of the state wildlife board and an environmentalist said, "For about three chariots, nearly 200 trees are felled in Odisha and the rath committee plants four times the number of saplings, and the wood is sourced only after an 80-year cycle of a tree planted. In Bastar, a single chariot is built - the four-wheeled 'Phool Rath' initially which later turns into eight-wheeled called 'Vijay Rath' — requiring felling of nearly 150 mature sal trees, many over a hundred years old. The Forest Department supplies this wood to the Bastar Dussehra Committee." "We have been demanding compensatory plantations for years. It shouldn't just continue in the name of tradition by planting few samplings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Sal trees take a several years to mature, he added. Jagdalpur chief conservator of forest R C Dugga told TOI that the number of trees to be felled depends on the size of logs required and usually they are less in numbers as claimed. By and large 80 huge logs are required for the chariot in Bastar Dussehra, he said. "Since the concern of annual felling of sal trees was considerable, our forest department team with local villagers and Dussehra committee jointly decided to plant saplings every year. There's a village called Nakti Semra near Jagdalpur, where the panchayat has provided an empty land and with own arrangements, we availed 250-300 saplings for plantation along with basic resources," CCF said. He added that the Bastar Dussehra committee representatives including 'manjhi, chalki' rank people who come from different villages, participate in plantation drive. We provide fencing and protection, he said, adding that to ensure proper care and maintenance, a formal initiative can be taken ahead. However, Kashyap urged for sal-specific replantation, stating that a mix of tree species is being planted instead. Moreover, while the best time for plantation is the monsoon, saplings are usually planted post-festival by tribal priests and traditional functionaries, often at the same spots where trees were felled, such as Markel, about 20 kms from Jagdalpur and Semra villages. Environmentalists emphasized that the chariot is crafted entirely through traditional methods — cut, carved, and shaped by hand without any machinery. This results in significant wood waste, which is later sold off or auctioned. Officials said that adequate funds can be allocated for structured ecological compensation for plantation.
News18
28-07-2025
- News18
The World's Longest Festival Is Celebrated In This Indian State
The world's longest-running festival, Bastar Dussehra 2025, began on Friday, July 25, with Hareli Amavasya in Chhattisgarh. Spanning an extraordinary 75 days, this unique celebration is steeped in centuries-old traditions and spiritual rituals that set it apart from the typical Dussehra festivities observed elsewhere in India. The grandeur of Bastar Dussehra, rooted in tribal culture and local beliefs, draws visitors and devotees from across the country and abroad. (News18 Hindi) The festival starts with Pat Jatra, a ritual where wood from the sacred Sal tree is brought from the forest and worshiped at the temple of Goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of Bastar. What makes it even more special is that it begins long before Navratri and continues well beyond the usual Dussehra dates. Each ritual in the festival is deeply symbolic and integral to the tribal way of life in the region. (News18 HIndi) 3/5 Among the most striking features of Bastar Dussehra is the construction of a massive wooden chariot, a responsibility given exclusively to the residents of two designated villages. The wood for this chariot is sourced from the Bilori forest, and the construction process reflects a blend of ancient craftsmanship, cultural pride, and royal tradition. The Rath Yatra has become a major visual and spiritual highlight of the celebrations. (News18 HIndi) Throughout the 75 days, numerous rituals are performed in sequence, such as Deri Gadai, Kalash Sthapana, Jogi Bithai, Nisha Jatra, Mawali Parghav, Muria Darbar, and the final Kutumb Jatra. Each holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning and showcases the rich heritage of the tribal communities that have preserved these customs for generations. The continuity of these traditions underscores the festival's enduring significance. (News18 Hindi) 5/5 Legend has it that Bastar Dussehra is linked to Lord Jagannath. King Purushottam of Bastar is said to have undertaken a Dandavat Yatra (a pilgrimage in prostration) to Jagannath Puri, where Lord Jagannath, pleased by his devotion, awarded him the title of ' Rathapat i' and a divine chariot. As a result, the Rath Yatra is central to Bastar Dussehra. While Dussehra will end on October 2 across most of India, Bastar Dussehra will conclude on October 7, marking the end of its 75-day-long spiritual journey. (News18 Hindi)
