Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s two-day Narayanpur retreat featured a captivating dive into Bastar’s essence at Garhbengal Ghutul. Welcomed with folk melodies and open hearts, he blended seamlessly into the festivities, emphasizing, ‘This Ghutul stands as our heritage’s proud sentinel.’
Inspecting dorms for tribal youth and repositories of traditional garb, age-old instruments, and artifacts, Sai reaffirmed governmental dedication to immortalizing Bastar’s cultural jewels.
The feast of local specialties—think udid dal, hiruva preparations, kanda bhaji, imli aamta, and ragi confections—evoked the land’s fragrant soul, representing ancestral ingenuity and communal self-reliance.
Sai was awestruck by the green-built haven, utilizing timber, earth, and cane under expert oversight from Padma Shri Pandiram Mandavi, whose pillar sculptures vividly depict heritage motifs. Proximity to Chendru Park positions it as a bridge for youth heritage reconnection and a tourist draw showcasing tribal dynamics.
Heartwarming encounters with luminaries like Vaidya Hemchand Manjhi, artist Pandiram Mandavi, Butlu Ram, and Tiger Boy Chendru’s relatives added depth. Sharing dishes with ministers Tankaram Verma, Kedar Kashyap, and others, Sai elevated the visit to a cultural festival.
Ultimately, Sai’s presence spotlights Bastar’s Ghutuls as timeless academies of tradition, poised to enchant visitors and sustain Adivasi pride amid modernization.