Chhattisgarh being a tribal territory has a plethora of festivals
that act as a showcase of the indigenous tribes distinct cultures,
folklores and dance forms. Besides the festivals specific
to Chhattisgarh, the region and its people lend ethnic overtones
to other festivals that are celebrated throughout India.
The main festivals in Chhattisgarh include:
Hareli Festival
Madai Festival
Bhagoriya Festival
Dusshera Festival
Ganga Dashera Festival
Charta Festival
Navakhai Festival
Surhul Festival
Hareli Festival
Held in the month of monsoon (sawan), Hareli Festival is
celebrated in Chhattisgarh to pray for a good harvest. In this
festival, the local farmers worship the farm equipments and
cows and hang strings of neem leaves on their doors to ward
off diseases and be blessed with healthy crops.
Madai Festival in Chhattisgarh
The festival of Gonds, an old tribal community in Chhattisgarh,
Madai Festival is a means to meet relatives settled in different
villages and purchase yearlong supplies of daily needs such
as salt and cooking oil. Devotees sacrifice a goat beneath
the sacred village tree to honor the tribal goddess; the night
is marked with non-stop drinking and dancing. The best place
to visit to attend the festival is Narayanpur in Bastar.
Bhagoriya Festival in Chhattisgarh
Held a week ago Holi, a Hindu festival, the Festival that
originated in the Bhils dominated Jhabua district allows you
to officially elope with your lover. The devotees worship
the god of dance Bahgoradav on this occasion.
Dusshera and Ganga Dusshera Festival in Chhattisgarh
The Ganga Dusshera Festival is celebrated on Bhim Sen Ekadashi
to mark the sowing of Kharif crops. Tribal dances, colorful
processions and endless rounds of drinking mark the Ganga
Dusshera festival, which are similar to Dusshera celebrations
in Chhattisgarh.
Charta Festival
A harvest festival that is celebrated by all tribal communities
in Chhattisgarh, Charta Festival has kids going around the
village collecting rice from each household. The married girls
then cook the collected rice on the banks of the nearby water
body as men and women sing and dance, eagerly awaiting the
community feast to be served.
Navakhana Festival
Another festival celebrated by all the communities to mark
the rice harvest, Navakana festival begins with offerings
of the harvested rice (new for the season) to the family deity
on Navami. Some communities may even have dances and liquor
during the night after the family consumes the first of the
newly harvested rice.
Surhul Festival
A festival that has nothing to do with harvest, Surhul Festival
is dedicated to the worship of Mother Earth and is held on
the day when the Sal Trees flower. The fields are left untouched
through the whole day and the farmers offer prayers at the
village Sarna (a small forest within the village).
Other festivals that you can attend on your tour to Chhattisgarh
include Gouri-Goura, Surti, Pola, Teeja, Navakhana, Deepavali,
Holi, Govardhan Pooja, Mati Puja, Goncha (chariot festival)
and Chaitrai.
Tourism of Central India offers specialized tour booking,
and travel packages for Chhattisgarh. To book your tour, or
for more information, please fill the form below.
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