Dussehra in Bastar
A 600-year old tribal festival
Palace of the king of Bastar decorated for the Dussehra festival. Many tribes come to visit the king every day to take his blessings.
During the rituals two goats were sacrificed for the goddess Danteswari. Haldi (turmeric) was also pasted on faces and thrown at everyone happily as a sign of prosperity.
The king performs rituals under the sacred tree of the village.
The king of Bastar sitting in the middle performs the rituals that aim at preserving fertility and avoiding sickness in the village.
The priests of the village have prepared the scene for the puja (prayers) - the entire inhabitants of the village have joined the celebration.
The tribal customs and traditions are slowly disappearing. The traditional tribal outfit for example is not used anymore as the youth prefers modern clothes.
The villagers play music, sing and dance for their king. They also burn many crackers.
The king guards accompany the king during a parade in the village. The king of Bastar is a "living god" for the tribes.
The king enters a village in Bastar in his car to perform rituals.
