President Droupadi Murmu received Bastar Pandum 2026 winners and representatives identified as Pargana Manjhi and Chalaki at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on July 30, 2026. Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also attended.
The meeting followed the festival Murmu opened at Jagdalpur on February 7. Akashvani's contemporaneous report described divisional competitions scheduled through February 9, with more than 700 artists in 84 teams across twelve disciplines.
Those categories included dance, handicrafts, traditional cuisine and indigenous musical instruments. Their breadth matters: the festival presented cultural knowledge not only as performance, but also through making objects, preparing food and producing music.
At the July gathering, Murmu described the Manjhi and Chalaki representatives as a link between communities and administration. She framed the festival as a way to connect younger people with traditions and give Bastar's cultural identity wider recognition.
February's festival provided a competitive public showcase; July's gathering brought winners and community representatives together for national recognition. Dance, craft, food and instruments gave that recognition a broader cultural base than performance alone.
