Kumar Bahukhandi
President Droupadi Murmu receives Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai during an official meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier this year. The interaction reflected a shared commitment to promoting Bastar’s tribal heritage, which now returns to the national spotlight as the winners of Bastar Pandum 2026 prepare to be honoured at the Presidential Estate.-Photo Credit- channel24india.com | Representational File Photo
209-member Chhattisgarh delegation led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan; tribal culture, traditional leadership and Bastar’s rich heritage to be celebrated at the highest constitutional level
Raipur : In a landmark moment for Chhattisgarh’s tribal heritage, the cultural legacy of Bastar is set to receive national recognition as President Droupadi Murmu hosts and honours the winners of Bastar Pandum 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on July 30.
A 209-member delegation, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, will pay a courtesy visit to the President. The delegation will include Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal, winners of Bastar Pandum 2026, representatives of Bastar’s traditional tribal governance system, Padma Shri awardees, and public representatives.
As part of the special programme, President Murmu has also invited the winning participants, traditional tribal leaders—including Pargana Manjhis, Manjhis and Chalkis—and Padma Shri awardees to a special ceremonial banquet. The delegation will also tour Rashtrapati Bhavan and visit prominent national landmarks in New Delhi.
The visit marks a historic recognition of Bastar’s indigenous traditions, cultural identity, and traditional leadership system on India’s highest constitutional platform.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the state government remains committed to preserving, promoting, and providing national as well as international recognition to the rich heritage of Chhattisgarh’s tribal communities.
“The presence of Bastar’s artists and traditional representatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan is a matter of immense pride for every citizen of Chhattisgarh. This honour reflects the nation’s respect for Bastar’s culture, traditions and tribal society,” the Chief Minister said.
Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal said Bastar Pandum 2026 has demonstrated that Chhattisgarh’s tribal traditions possess the strength to earn recognition not only nationally but also globally.
He described the festival as a powerful platform for preserving indigenous knowledge systems, folk traditions, cultural identity and the region’s traditional governance practices. According to him, the recognition being extended at Rashtrapati Bhavan represents an honour for the entire cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the guidance of Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal, the state’s Culture Department has undertaken sustained efforts to preserve and promote tribal heritage. These initiatives have helped establish Bastar Pandum as one of India’s most significant tribal cultural festivals, while creating opportunities for artists, documenting indigenous knowledge, and encouraging younger generations to reconnect with their cultural roots.
The festival has witnessed remarkable growth since its inaugural edition in 2025, when it earned a place in the Golden Book of World Records as the world’s largest tribal cultural festival.
Building on that success, the 2026 edition expanded from seven to twelve competitive categories, attracting 54,750 participants from 32 development blocks across Bastar’s seven districts.
Held between January 10 and February 9, 2026, the festival featured competitions at block, district and divisional levels. Participants showcased Bastar’s rich cultural diversity through tribal dance, folk music, theatre, traditional musical instruments, costumes, ornaments, handicrafts, paintings, traditional beverages, indigenous cuisine, regional literature and forest-based medicinal knowledge.
The divisional-level celebrations in Jagdalpur were inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu, while the closing ceremony was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, further enhancing the event’s national stature.
Exhibitions featuring tribal handicrafts, forest produce, herbal medicine, traditional jewellery and local cuisine attracted thousands of visitors, creating economic opportunities for local artisans, self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs. Artists from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh also participated, transforming Bastar Pandum into a vibrant national confluence of tribal cultures.
The upcoming visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, at the invitation of President Murmu, marks another historic milestone for Bastar and Chhattisgarh. Beyond honouring the winners of Bastar Pandum 2026, it symbolises the growing national recognition of India’s rich tribal heritage and reinforces Bastar’s place on the country’s cultural map.
