Mansukh Mandaviya to inaugurate festival, Amit Shah to attend closing ceremony; Palak Muchhal, Swasti Mehul and Abhijeet Bhattacharya among star attractions as 30 local performances showcase the state’s folk heritage
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 31, 2026: Chhattisgarh is set to celebrate its State Foundation Day with a three-day cultural extravaganza as Rajyotsav 2026 begins at the Rajyotsav Grounds in Nawa Raipur Atal Nagar on November 1. The festival, continuing until November 3, will bring together the state’s folk traditions, tribal culture, music, dance and performing arts, alongside performances by prominent Bollywood singers.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya will inaugurate the festival on November 1 at 6 pm, with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presiding over the ceremony. Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu and Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma will attend as guests of honour, along with state ministers, MPs, MLAs and other public representatives.
On November 2, Governor Ramen Deka will be the chief guest at a special cultural programme chaired by Tourism and Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal. MLAs Rajesh Munat, Purandar Mishra, Motilal Sahu, Sunil Soni, Anuj Sharma and Indra Kumar Sahu will attend as guests of honour.
The festival will conclude on November 3, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah attending as the chief guest and Chief Minister Sai presiding. The concluding programme will include the state-level Rajya Alankaran Samaroh, during which distinguished individuals will be honoured for their contributions in various fields.
Bollywood singers to headline evening programmes
The main stage will host a series of cultural performances and musical events over the three days. On November 1, programmes will begin at 5 pm with folk music presentations by artists from the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, followed by a performance by Raipur-based artist Anurag Sharma at 6 pm. After the inaugural ceremony, scheduled from 6.30 pm to 8 pm, Bollywood playback singer Palak Muchhal will perform from 8 pm.
On November 2, the cultural programme will feature the play Main Ayodhya Hoon from 6 pm to 7 pm, followed by a performance by Raipur artist Sunil Soni. Playback singer Swasti Mehul will take the stage from 8 pm.
The final evening on November 3 will begin with folk music presentations by the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, followed by a performance by Padma Shri awardee and renowned Panthi artist Usha Barle. The Rajya Alankaran Samaroh will be held from 7 pm to 9 pm, after which Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya will perform popular songs.
Shilpgram to host 30 performances by local artists
Alongside the main stage, Shilpgram, or the Craft Village, will be a major attraction, with 30 performances by local artists scheduled across the three days. Programmes will begin daily at 3 pm, featuring traditional folk music, dance, theatre, devotional songs and classical performances.
The showcase will include Chhattisgarh’s celebrated Pandwani, Panthi and Sua traditions, along with Odissi, Kathak, tribal folk dances, folk theatre, bhajans, Sufi music and ghazals. Artists from different districts will get an opportunity to present their work before a wider audience.
On November 1, nine performances will feature Pandwani artists Chetan Dewangan from Durg and Durga Sahu from Raipur, along with folk music and guitar presentations by Shivendra Mandavi. Rhythm Band, led by Rajiv Srivastava, and Fusion Band, led by Santosh Kumar Sinha, will also perform. Classical dance, folk theatre and other musical presentations will complete the day’s programme.
The second day will feature 11 performances, including Odissi by Sushmita Das, Pandwani by Sampriya Puja Nishad, Sua dance by Milvantin Bai from Gariaband and Kathak presentations by Anchal Pandey and Vinita Tripathi. Sufi music, ghazals, folk theatre and band performances will also be part of the programme.
On November 3, ten performances will showcase Panthi dance, tribal folk music, devotional songs, Jasgeet, Jagrata, Sufi music and Kathak. Artists Aarti Barle from Durg and Dinesh Kumar Jangde from Raipur will present Panthi dance, while Abhishek Sonkar will showcase tribal folk music and dance. Group Kathak and theatrical performances will also feature.
Platform for local talent and cultural preservation
The festival aims to provide local artists with a prominent platform alongside nationally recognised performers, while introducing younger generations to the state’s rich cultural heritage.
Traditional art forms such as Pandwani, Panthi and Sua are deeply connected with Chhattisgarh’s social life, folk beliefs and tribal identity. Their inclusion in the festival is expected to promote greater awareness and encourage the preservation and wider recognition of these traditions.
With a blend of traditional performances, contemporary music and cultural exhibitions, Rajyotsav 2026 is expected to offer visitors an opportunity to experience the diversity and artistic heritage of Chhattisgarh during the state’s Foundation Day celebrations.
