Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai celebrated ‘Hareli Tihar’ at his residence. He extended his greetings to the people of the state and addressed the gathering, emphasising that his government’s top priority is to bring prosperity and well-being to farmers. He highlighted that Chhattisgarh is an agriculture-dominated state, with 80 percent of the population dependent on farming for their livelihood. The Chief Minister noted the significant decisions taken by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to enhance agriculture and benefit farmers.
Chief Minister Sai praised the efforts of Dr Raman Singh’s 15-year tenure, during which the government focused on farmers’ welfare, including facilities like zero percent interest on agricultural loans. He shared that the state government is now procuring 21 quintals of paddy per acre at Rs. 3100 per quintal from farmers.
The ‘Hareli Tihar’ celebration at the Chief Minister’s residence was vibrant, with the entire premises decorated to resemble a village. As part of the festivities, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and his wife, Kaushalya Devi Sai, performed the ‘Gauri-Ganesh’ pooja and the ‘Rudrabhishek’ of Lord Shiva. They also conducted a traditional pooja of agricultural tools such as ploughs, hoes, and other farming equipment, praying for the happiness and prosperity of the state’s people.
The CM also visited an exhibition of advanced agricultural equipment organised by the Agriculture Department. During the event, he distributed keys for tractors, harvesters, and other agricultural equipment to 23 farmers.
Attendees of the ‘Hareli Tihar’ at the Chief Minister’s residence enjoyed a vibrant showcase of Chhattisgarh’s folk culture. The event featured folk music, traditional Gadwa Baja, Raut Nacha, and Gedi dance. Various folk artists performed the Raut Nacha, Karma dance, Bastariya dance, and Gedi dance. At the request of the Raut Nacha performers, the Chief Minister donned traditional Chhattisgarhi attire, boosting the artists’ morale.
The Chief Minister’s residence was filled with the delightful aroma of Chhattisgarh’s cuisine. Special dishes were prepared for the guests, including Thethari, Khurmi, Pidiya, Anarsa, Khaja, Curry Laddu, Muthiya, Gulgula Bhajiya, Chila-Fara, and Bara. Guests thoroughly enjoyed these traditional dishes, adding to the festive atmosphere of the ‘Hareli Tihar’.