Bastar Honoured on Gujarat’s Soil — Chhattisgarh’s Tableau Showcases a New Model of Development at the Unity Parade

Raipur, Oct 2025 : Chhattisgarh’s tableau, titled “The Land of Bastar – A Saga of Culture, Creation, and Progress,” captivated audiences at the Unity Parade held today in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The tableau emerged as a vivid symbol of the tribal life, traditions, and developmental journey of Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi viewed all the tableaux showcased in the parade and appreciated the cultural representations of various states. In his presence, the Chhattisgarh tableau attracted special attention due to its beauty, symbolism, and powerful message.

At the front of the tableau, artists from the Madia tribe—dressed in traditional attire—performed the Gaur dance, bringing to life Bastar’s pride, dignity, and deep sense of community. The traditional trumpet placed nearby symbolised the resonance of Bastar’s festivals and its vibrant folk spirit. The depiction of Nandi reflected the region’s profound faith and traditions of Shiva worship.

The middle section of the tableau artistically portrayed Bastar’s journey of development and transformation. Once affected by Naxalism, the region is now gaining a new identity in education, healthcare, roads, and employment. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the guidance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Bastar has emerged as a symbol of a rapidly progressing India. The echoes of violence have now been replaced by the sounds of development.

The final section featured a statue of a woman carrying a basket, symbolising the strength, labour, and creativity of Bastar’s women. The tableau’s decorations, crafted in Dhokra art, showcased the exceptional artistry and traditional skills of Bastar’s craftsmen.

The Chhattisgarh tableau not only celebrated cultural richness but also narrated the story of positive change unfolding in Bastar. It illustrated how today’s new Bastar has become a harmonious blend of tradition, nature, and development. Areas once inaccessible and remote now have an expanding network of roads filled with the sounds of children walking to school, with classrooms echoing with school bells.

Electricity and internet connectivity in villages have ignited new hopes. The youth are enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to progress. Women are becoming self-reliant—through handicrafts, forest produce, and various development schemes that have brought new direction to their lives. People now have renewed faith in development.

This tableau symbolises the belief that Bastar is now known not only for its folk culture and traditions but also for its rapid progress in education, infrastructure, healthcare, and employment, marking the arrival of a new era.

The tableaux for the Unity Parade were selected by a high-level committee headed by the Union Home Secretary, along with experts from various fields. States, Union Territories, and central organisations presented their themes, models, and concepts before the committee. Chhattisgarh’s tableau was chosen for its originality, cultural richness, and vivid portrayal of development.

The final list included tableaux from Chhattisgarh, NSG, NDRF, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Manipur, Puducherry, and Uttarakhand.