President Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate Bastar Pandum–2026 in Chhattisgarh

President Droupadi Murmu, during her day-long visit to Chhattisgarh on February 7, will formally inaugurate Bastar Pandum–2026, the state-level tribal cultural festival, in Jagdalpur.

The President’s presence is expected to lend national visibility to the event, positioning Bastar’s indigenous heritage at the centre of India’s cultural discourse.

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Organised on the initiative of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Bastar Pandum is designed to showcase the region’s diverse tribal traditions, including folk art, classical and community dances, music, traditional attire, rituals, crafts, cuisine and indigenous knowledge systems. The invitation for the inauguration was extended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and was accepted by the President, reflecting institutional recognition of Bastar’s cultural significance.

Conceived as a cultural revival initiative, Bastar Pandum draws inspiration from traditional community fairs and collective celebrations intrinsic to tribal life. The festival brings together a wide range of expressions rooted in everyday practices—folk theatre, songs, dances, literature, traditional ornaments, indigenous musical instruments, regional food and beverages, and forest-based medicinal knowledge.

By giving the festival an organised and competitive format, the state government seeks to ensure wider participation, recognition and sustainability for tribal cultural practices. Over time, Bastar Pandum has emerged as a symbol of cultural reaffirmation, connecting ancestral traditions with contemporary platforms.

In Narayanpur district alone, 156 participants and teams have been shortlisted for district-level competitions across multiple categories. These include 42 tribal dance teams, 20 tribal song teams, 27 theatre participants, as well as entries in traditional attire, crafts, painting, indigenous beverages, cuisine, musical instruments, literature and herbal medicine.

As Bastar Pandum–2026 prepares to unfold, it stands not merely as a cultural event but as a sustained effort to preserve intangible heritage and transmit it to future generations. With the President inaugurating the festival, Bastar Pandum is set to gain a stronger national footprint, affirming the artistic vitality, cultural dignity and contemporary relevance of tribal traditions in India’s evolving cultural landscape.