High-Level Meeting Held for ‘Bastar Pandum 2026’

Raipur, Nov 2025 : A high-level meeting was organized at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma in Raipur on Saturday to plan the upcoming ‘Bastar Pandum 2026’, aimed at bringing Chhattisgarh’s rich tribal culture to life. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, and Culture Minister Shri Rajesh Agarwal. Discussions focused on making all necessary arrangements to showcase the unique folk art, culture, customs, and traditional lifestyle of the Bastar division during the festival.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma said that the Bastar Pandum is not only an effort to preserve Bastar’s cultural heritage but also a golden opportunity to provide talented local artists a platform to present and promote their art. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, all departments are expected to work in coordination to ensure the successful organization of the event. Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap added that Bastar Pandum is a unique platform that allows the youth of Bastar to display their cultural diversity and artistic excellence on a grand stage.

Culture Minister Shri Rajesh Agarwal emphasized that the Bastar Pandum represents the state’s cultural identity. He noted that all preparations by the state government must be completed within the prescribed timeline.

Event Details:
‘Bastar Pandum 2026’ will be held from 5 January to 5 February 2026, featuring competitions across 12 major categories, including traditional dance and songs, tribal rituals, musical instruments, handicrafts, traditional cuisine, tribal songs, costumes, painting, regional literature, tribal theatre, tribal jewelry, beverages, and forest medicinal plants. These competitions will be conducted at the block, district, and divisional levels.

The first phase at the block level will take place from 5 to 15 January 2026, the second phase at the district level from 20 to 25 January 2026, and the final divisional-level competition from 1 to 5 February 2026. Winners of each stage will receive prize money and certificates.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Sharma directed that representatives from tribal-majority states, central ministers, foreign diplomats, ambassadors, local subject experts, Padma awardees, and distinguished citizens from various fields in Bastar be invited to showcase the region’s unique culture nationally and internationally. All community leaders, including Sirha, Manjhi, and Chalaki, are also to be invited.

In alignment with the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” artists from all states of India will be invited to perform tribal folk arts. Bastar Pandum will include participants from 1,885 gram panchayats, 32 janpad panchayats, 8 municipalities, 12 nagar panchayats, and 1 municipal corporation across the seven districts of the division.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary of the Culture Department Shri Rohit Yadav, Director Shri Vivek Acharya, Nodal Officer of Bastar Pandum Shri Yugal Kishore, and OSD to Minister Rajesh Agarwal, Shri Jitendra Singh.