Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya display of a dussehra rath of Bastar, a symbol of bravery and endurance, received a lot of response. The festival of Dushhera is celebrated with great devotion at Jagdalpur town of Bastar district, Chhattisgrah from ancient times. It is an occasion to propitiate Danteshwari Mai, the supreme goddess of the local pantheon. On this occasion Rath (Chariot) is drawn by people with the help of ropes and a procession follows the moving of Rath.

The institution of boarding the Rath started from the days of Maharaha Purshottam Dev, who was the ruler of Bastar in 14th century. King Purushottam Deo went to Jagannath Puri temple for worship and came back as 'Rath-pati' with a divine permission to mount on chariot. Since then, Dussehra is being celebrated by people of Bastar in this unique way.

Deities from various small temples across Bastar travel to district headquarters of Jagdalpur.

The chariot on which the procession of local deities is carried out is made of special wood from Odisha and its contruction is supervised Dhakada tribe.

The tribal worships the chariot before it is used. The Parja tribe provides ropes to pull the chariot, while Maria and Dhurwa tribes pull the Dussehra rath. During olden days the ruler of Bastar used to sit on the Rath and make circumambulation of Mavli Gudi (Temple) and Jagannath Gudi (temple). The two Raths, four wheeled Phool Rath and eight wheeled Rani Rath are said to be a boon given to rulers of Bastar by Lord Jagannath of Puri, Orissa.

The colourful festivities on the occasion of Dushhera strengthen the bonds of soical unity and degree of friendship amongst the people of Bastar. On this occasion villagers from distant villages including headman, priest, feudal chiefs, the local diviners, shamans, come to Jagdalpur with their offerings along sith village deities, carried in litters.