like its tribal culture, Bastar’s Goncha Festival too has unique features as on his travel to Aunty’s house, lord Jagannath is not only worshipped with 22 idols of the deity but also ‘Tupki’ is fired (as guard of honour) by devotees in his honour.
‘Tupki’ is a long pipe like instrument made of bamboo which used by youth. Small berry like fruits of Malkangini are put on one side of it while the player blows it with releasing air from his mouth targeting young girls. This is very popular among tribal youth and is played during June to Dussehra.
Notably, in Bastar only Rath Yatra of lord Jagannath, sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra is taken out with 22 other idols of the deity making it unique and exclusive from Archaeological point of view as well. In no temple of lord Jagannath throughout world 22 idols are worshipped except Bastar.
Behind the myth of 22 idols worshipped together in one temple there is ancient story. In 1408, the royal family of Bastar brought 360 families of Aranyak Brahmins from Orissa. The Brahmin families had brought idol of lord jagannath with them and used to worship the same.
later many Brahmin families also came to Bastar and settled here in phases. All the groups brought idols of the lord Jagannath with them and worshipped separately in their respective villages. When the capital of smaller princely states shifted to Jagdalpur, these Brahmin families also migrated to Jagdalpur and worshipped lord Jagannath in temples made of grass near the present Goncha Temple.
Unfortunately, once these temples were destroyed in a devastating fire and then the King built a pucca temple for the lord Jagannath. When this news spread, all the Brahmin families decided to install their respective idols in the same temple.
On their request the temple was built in seven segments. While in six segments Brahmins installed their respective idols of the lord totalling 22, in the seventh segment idol of lord Ram has been installed thus making it the temple having 22 idols of lord Jagannath where devotees also has the privilege to perform puja of lord Ram.