CM Sai Invited to Bastar’s Historic ‘Goncha Mahaparv’; Honored with Traditional ‘Tupki’ Gift
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Raipur, 19 June
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai was formally invited to attend the historic Goncha Mahaparv of Bastar by a delegation led by Jagdalpur MLA Shri Kiran Deo at the CM’s residence last night. The delegation, representing the Goncha Mahaparv Organizing Committee, extended a warm invitation for the Chief Minister to attend the grand festival to be held in Jagdalpur, the divisional headquarters of Bastar.
They shared that the Goncha Mahaparv, a symbol of social harmony and love in Bastar, has been celebrated continuously for over 600 years. It is the second-longest-running festival in Bastar after Bastar Dussehra. This year, it began on June 11 with the Chandan Yatra.
As part of the festival, the Netrotsav Puja will be held on June 26, followed by the Goncha Rath Yatra on June 27. The festival will conclude on July 5 with the Bahuda Goncha Rath Yatra. In keeping with Bastar’s traditional customs, the delegation honored the Chief Minister with a ‘Tupki’, a ceremonial item that holds cultural significance in the Goncha festival.
It is worth noting that Tupki firing is a centuries-old tradition associated with Goncha Mahaparv. Made from hollow bamboo pipes, these Tupkis are filled with the fruit of a special local plant and compressed forcefully to create a sound similar to a firecracker. It is a unique and festive expression of tribal culture in Bastar.
Chief Minister Shri Sai expressed his heartfelt thanks for the invitation and extended his best wishes for the successful celebration of Goncha Mahaparv.
The delegation included:
Shri Vedprakash Pandey, President of the 360-House Aranyak Brahmin Society
Shri Chintamani Pandey, President of the Goncha Committee
Along with dignitaries Hemant Pandey, Rajneesh Panigrahi, Narendra Panigrahi, Sudarshan Panigrahi, Purushottam Joshi, Mukteshwar Pandey, Banamali Panigrahi, Dinesh Panigrahi, Dileshwar Pandey, Prashant Panigrahi, Devshankar Panda, Vijay Pandey, Atmaram Joshi, Devkrishna Panigrahi, Jayprakash Padhi, Vaibhav Pandey, Chumman Pandey, Somprakash Joshi, Venudhar Panigrahi, Pradeep Padhi, Somesh Joshi, and others.