CM Vishnudeo Sai to Stay in Raigarh for Two Days : He Will Inaugurate Chakradhar Festival, Hema Malini to Perform

Raipur
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai will be on a two-day visit to Raigarh starting Saturday. He will inaugurate the 39th Chakradhar Festival 2024 at Raigarh’s Ramleela Ground on Saturday at 5:30 PM. For the next 10 days, the city of Raigarh, known for its art and culture, will be immersed in cultural festivities.
The event will feature a total of 62 performances by artists ranging from local talents to national and international-level performers. Renowned artists from across the country will arrive in Raigarh to participate in this prestigious festival. Every year, significant preparations are made for the festival, where artists from all over India showcase their performances.
On the first day, Bollywood actress and classical dancer Hema Malini will present the famous “Radha Ras Bihari” performance. Senior artist of the Raigarh Kathak Gharana, Ramlal, who was awarded the Padma Shri this year, will be honored with the “Kathak Ghungroo Samman.”
There will also be a Kathak dance performance by Bhupendra Bareth and his fellow artists. Additionally, the audience will get the opportunity to enjoy the traditional Karama dance of Chhattisgarh, performed by Maniyar Bhagat and his team from Jashpur.
The Chakradhar Festival holds historical importance. Before independence, Raigarh was an independent princely state with a rich tradition of cultural and literary activities. Renowned musicians like Kumar Gandharva and Madhukar Pandey, the first poet of the Chhayavadi movement in Hindi, were from Raigarh.
When Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel initiated the process of merging princely states into India, Raigarh’s King Chakradhar was the first to sign the agreement for merger.
Raja Chakradhar was a skilled tabla player and an expert in music and dance. His efforts and encouragement led to the development of new styles of music and dance in the region. The tradition of cultural celebrations during Ganesh Utsav began before independence and gradually evolved into a large-scale event.
After Raja Chakradhar’s passing, in his memory, the cultural figures and artists of Raigarh initiated the 10-day “Chakradhar Festival” in 1985. This event has played a significant role in placing Chhattisgarh on the cultural map of India.