Chhattisgarh: Tribal body objects use of ‘Pandum’ in govt festivals, calls it sacred ritual

RAIPUR: Raising an objection over using the 'Gondi' word 'Pandum' - literal meaning festival - for fairs, shows, campaigns in private and govt events, the Sarv Adivasi Samaj of Bastar division has written to Chhattisgarh Governor and chief minister stating that the usage of it distorts and commercializes the core element of tribal faith, which, rather refers to specific religious service and method of worship of village deities. "Turning it into the title of govt and public events is contrary to our religious belief, customs and way of life," the Samaj representatives said. The govt last year launched an annual fest called Bastar Pandum to open platforms for tribal art and culture for people to participate.In a three-page memorandum addressed to Governor Raman Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Sarv Adivasi Samaj (Bastar division) has demanded an immediate ban on the use of “Pandum” in the names of govt and private events. The SArv Adivasi Samaj is an umbrella association for dozens of tribal communities and sub-societies. “Pandum is not a word for any festival, exhibition, programme or publicity drive,” said PRakash Thakur, president of Sarv Adivasi Samaj, stating, “Among tribal communities, Pandum refers to a specific religious service and method of worship of village deities."The tribal body has also sent copies of the representation to the tribal welfare and home departments, as well as collectors and district panchayat CEOs of all seven Bastar division districts — Bastar, Kondagaon, Kanker, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma.‘Pandum is worship, not a festival name’Explaining its position, the Samaj says Pandum in Gondi tradition is a sacred process — a ritual of worship for village and family deities performed at a fixed place, on a fixed date and time, by designated community members.According to the memorandum, Pandum involves offering forest and farm produce such as fruits and flowers to the deity, accompanied by collective prayers for the protection and well-being of the village. It describes the practice as an inseparable part of the community’s “ancient religious belief, collective consciousness and traditional life-process”."In this context, the present use of the word ‘Pandum’ for such programmes is unconstitutional and an attack on our religious belief,” the letter says, arguing that no traditional term or ritual process should be appropriated for state events without Gram Sabha consent.The controversy has placed the state government’s “Bastar Pandum” initiative squarely under scrutiny. With the memorandum now public, the issue has begun to acquire a sharp political edge. Congress state president Deepak Baij has accused BJP govt of “misusing” a religiously significant tribal term for optics and publicity, alleging that “after controlling funds, the govt now wants to control words too”.On the other side, government sources maintain that programmes like Bastar Pandum were conceived to promote and celebrate tribal culture, not to hurt sentiments, and say the administration is open to dialogue. A detailed official response, however, is yet to be issued.