Raipur: “We only lit a few lamps at first… this year, we brought back the entire fair after 28 years,” said a villager from Bhejji in Sukma district, where the traditional mela returned on April 17 after nearly three decades, marking a shift from fear to celebration.
Residents recall that after the Salwa Judum years and the peak of Maoist influence, even gathering for rituals was fraught with risk. The fair drew thousands from 138 villages this year, marking its first full-scale revival. The mela — once a vibrant expression of tribal identity — fell silent. Villagers continued their prayers, but in fragments, often in secrecy.
Held at the revered Korraj Dev premises, the fair drew thousands from 138 villages this year, marking its first full-scale revival since 1998. The return was gradual. Over the past two years, villagers organised small, low-key gatherings to test safety. “It wasn't that faith disappeared… it just went quiet,” an elder said. This year, that hesitation gave way to a full-fledged celebration. Officials attribute the revival to improved security conditions. But for many in Sukma, it signals the reclaiming of public spaces — where traditions can now be practised openly, without fear.
