The month long Bastar Dussehra festival took off in traditional style with performing of ‘Deri Gadai’ rituals at Sirasar Bhawan here Tuesday. Under the auspices of Bastar Dussehra Samiti, chief priest performed the rituals in the presence of Bastar Dussehra Samiti officials, MlA Santosh Bafna, Jagdalpur Mayor KIran Dev, Manjhi-Chalki and ladies who came from Bastar villages.
With this ritual having performed, now the construction of chariot to be used in Dussehra festival will start. Notably, for ‘Deri Gadai’ ritual Tribal people of village Biranpal of Bastar district had reached Sirasar Bhawan with the customary two pieces of wood. This tradition is in practice for quite some time when Tribal villagers in large number reach Jagdalpur in the form of a rally carrying the wooden pieces which are kept at Sirasar Bhawan with performing of some religious rituals. On this occasion tribal people give sacrifices of egg as well as cocks to the deity while seeking permission for construction of the chariot. Till the completion of Dussehra these wooden pieces are kept at Sirasar Bhawan.