Kumar Bahukhandi
Craftswoman Hirabai Jhareka Baghel was honored with the National Handicrafts Award-Photo Credit-CG/PR
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulates Heera Bai Jhareka Baghel on this achievement
Raipur: Heera Bai Jhareka Baghel, a renowned Dhokra–bell metal artisan from Sarangarh–Bilaigarh district, was honoured with the National Handicrafts Award by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on December 9, 2025 . She has brought national recognition to Chhattisgarh’s traditional metal craft.
Extending congratulations on behalf of the people of the state, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai wrote on his social media platform X – That this achievement is a moment of “immense pride for all of Chhattisgarh.”
The Chief Minister stated that this honour belongs not only to Heera Bai Jhareka Baghel but to “every artisan of Chhattisgarh.” He stated that the state takes great pride in its art, culture, and handicrafts. The government is consistently committed to “art preservation, training, skill enhancement, and market expansion,” ensuring that the talents of rural and forest-dwelling communities are supported and able to establish their presence on global platforms.
Chief Minister Sai added that the accomplishment of Heera Bai, who hails from the forest region of Gram Panchayat Baigindih and has elevated Chhattisgarh’s identity across the country through her exceptional craftsmanship, reinforces the national importance of the state’s rich folk art, traditions, and rural talent. Dhokra craft is a centuries-old heritage, and artisans like Heera Bai are keeping these traditions alive in “a form that resonates with contemporary times.”
