Chhattisgarh State PCS

• 21 Mar 2022

Dr. Khubchand Baghel

Why in News

• On March 20, 2022, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel unveiled a seven-feet high statue of Dr. Khubchand Baghel, the first visionary of Chhattisgarh state formation, prepared from Ashtadhatu in Balodabazar.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel unveiled the statue of Dr. Khubchand Baghel in Gaurav Path Garden of the district headquarters during his stay at Balodabazar.
• Appreciating the life-size statue, he said that through this statue the new generation of Chhattisgarh would be familiar with the contribution of the dreamer in building the state of Chhattisgarh.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister announced to name Balodabazar Polytechnic College after former MP Late Karuna Shukla at the oath-taking ceremony of Sarva Brahmin Samaj organized at Vipra Vatika.
• It is noteworthy that Dr. Khubchand Baghel was born on July 19, 1900 in Pathri village of Raipur district. Dr. Baghel was greatly influenced by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and left the government job and joined Gandhiji's movement in 1930.
• Dr. Baghel strongly opposed the evil practice. He did a satyagraha to stop the kissbin dance performed during Holi. Apart from this, he started the Pankti Todo i.e.'Break the Row' movement. The purpose of this movement was any person can have food with anyone sitting in a row, there should not be a separate row on the basis of caste'.

Phagun Madai Fair

Why in News

• On March 19, 2022, the historic and world-famous Phagun Madai Fair of Dantewada, South Bastar, was duly concluded after 10 days of various religious events.

Key Points

• The ten-day Phagun Madai fair was started on 9th March with the installation of Kalash at Mendhka Dobra Maidan situated at the entrance of Maa Danteshwari.
• In this fair, along with the worship of nine forms of Goddess Durga, the palanquin of the mother is taken out for nine days. The rituals performed in the Phagun fair are seen only in Dantewada.
• More than 700 village deities participate in this fair. In this, all the deities of Bastar division and Navrangpur district of Odisha are invited and made participants.
• In Dantewada, the Phagun fair is organized under the umbrella of the famous historical and archaeological ancient Shakti Peeth of Goddess Danteshwari Devi, who resides at the confluence of Shankani-Dankani rivers.
• The famous Phagun Madai of Dantewada is organized every year from Phagun Shukla Shashti (sixth day) to Poornima (The full moon day). It is believed that during this time Maa Danteshwari celebrates Holi festival with all her deities.
• The entire organization and arrangement of Phagun Madai is done by the Temple State Committee, Dantewada. This committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Collector Dantewada, consists of temple priests, manjhi and local public representatives.