The venue is Kachangadi Temple in the outskirts of Jagdalpur in Bastar district (Chhattisgarh), dedicated to Kachan Devi, a tribal goddess belonging to the Panikas, a weaver community. A huge crowd collects outside the temple, the doors of which open only once a year during Dussehra. The young girl is possessed by the goddess and is led to a swing made of thorny bel tree twigs. She gets into a trance, holds up a sword, and gives a floral wreath to the Maharaja of Bastar, thus granting divine sanction for Dussehra celebrations to begin. It is to get the consent of Goddess Raila, yet another pre-puberty girl from the weaver community, possessed by Kachan Devi’s goddess sister. To the sound of dhankul, consent of Raila is also given, and Dussehra festivities are thrown open. Bastar Dussehra, lasting all of 75 days, beginning with the pata jatra puja on the new moon day in Shravan month, is the world’s longest Dussehra celebrations. And strangely enough, the festival has nothing to do the Ramayana or with the worship of Goddess Durga. Dussehra in Bastar is devoted entirely to Goddess Danteshwari, the clan deity of the Kakatiya dynasty that held sway over the region in the 15th century. The main event of the festival is the visit of Danteshwari to Jagdalpur. It is feast time for her and her sister Maoli. . . . Exploring with: @official_priti_rx2 Kachangadi bastar chhTtisgarh... ❤🙏 #bastar #chhattisgarh #jagdalpur #cfor36garh #bastartraditions #bastardussehra2021 #bastariya #southchhattisgarh #travelbastar #visitindia #Tourism #chhattisgarhtourism #traveler #travellife #travelling #incredibleindia #dekhoapnapradesh #dekhoapnadesh #kachangadi (at Bastar, Chhattīsgarh, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUusMiiqKXA/?utm_medium=tumblr