President Murmu opens Bastar Pandum 2026

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Jagdalpur on Saturday to inaugurate Bastar Pandum 2026, a three-day tribal cultural festival that showcases the indigenous heritage of Bastar. The event is being held at the historic Lalbagh Ground and will continue until February 9.

The President was received at Maa Danteshwari Airport by Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, along with local MLA and state BJP president Kiran Deo and senior administrative and police officials, were present at the reception.

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Organised by the Department of Culture, Government of Chhattisgarh, Bastar Pandum formally commenced, with the Governor presiding over the inaugural ceremony. The Chief Minister, Union Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers and senior cabinet colleagues attended the opening.

Widely regarded as the cultural confluence of Bastar’s tribal society, Bastar Pandum brings together traditional practices rooted in folk art, ritual life and ancestral knowledge. This year’s festival features presentations across 12 cultural disciplines, including tribal dances, folk songs, theatre, traditional musical instruments, costumes, ornaments, crafts and indigenous paintings.

The event also showcases local cuisines, traditional beverages, regional literature and forest based medicinal practices, offering a comprehensive view of Bastar’s living traditions. Officials said the festival is designed to strengthen cultural pride within tribal communities while creating wider national awareness of Bastar’s heritage.

The administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. Security, crowd management and logistical support have been strengthened in view of the high-profile inauguration.

With Bastar Pandum 2026 underway, the festival is being seen as a reaffirmation of the region’s cultural identity and a platform that places tribal heritage firmly within India’s broader cultural narrative.