Indore to hold Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and Reforms Utsav-2026 events for students and residents

Several activities will be held in Indore district under Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and Reforms Utsav-2026, on the directions of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, New Delhi, and the Director, Tribal Area Development Schemes and Tribal Research and Development Institute, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal. The programmes cover studies, culture, sports and public awareness. Reforms Utsav will run from October 2 to December 25, 2026. The aim is to familiarise students and the general public with the rich culture, traditions and historical heritage of tribal society and the contribution of tribal heroes to the freedom struggle.

On Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, on November 15, floral tributes will be paid to Bhagwan Birsa Munda and his contribution will be remembered. Students will be told about the lives, struggles and sacrifices of tribal icons including Tantya Bhil, Rani Durgavati, Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah. The respective principals and hostel superintendents will conduct these programmes.

From November 15 to December 15, academic lectures and seminars will be held on the theme "Tribal resistance and the freedom movement in central India". Programmes with student participation include quizzes, story writing, essay writing and documentary-making. Students and local artists will paint traditional tribal art on the outer walls of government buildings. To promote traditional tribal games, sports competitions including archery and wrestling will be held. A district-level folk music and dance competition will be held through local schools on December 9.

As part of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, a special activity, "Chhoo Lo Aasman", will run in the district's government educational institutions until November 14, 2026. Students of high schools, higher secondary schools, ashram shalas, KSP and Eklavya Model Residential Schools will take part. In the senior category, students of Classes 9 to 12 will participate, and in the junior category, students of ashram shalas.

The event will give students a chance to show their talent through sports, cultural and literary activities. The sports are kho-kho, football and kabaddi. Cultural activities will include dance, music, poetry and drama. Literary activities include essay writing, speech, painting, story writing, quiz and debate competitions.

The competitions will be held in stages. At the cluster level on November 11, nodal officers and cluster principals will conduct them. At the block level on November 12 and 13, nodal officers and block education officers will be responsible. District-level competitions will be held on November 14 through the Assistant Director, Tribal Affairs Department.

The competition themes relate to tribal history, culture and traditions. The painting theme is "My tribal community, my heritage". The story writing theme is "Stories of my tribal heritage", the poetry theme is "Voices of tribal India", and the essay theme is "Tribal contribution to India's freedom struggle".

Speech and short writing competitions will cover topics such as tribal freedom fighters, tribal heritage, traditional knowledge, art, culture and the contribution of tribal communities to India's development. A traditional art and craft competition will be held on the theme "Art of my community".

The dance and music competitions will feature tribal folk dances, traditional songs and musical traditions. In the drama competitions, short plays will show tribal history, culture, traditions and the contribution of tribal communities to the freedom struggle. Street plays will carry a message of awareness about tribal heritage, education, health, livelihood, environmental protection and social development.

Activities on the theme "Know your tribe, recognise your heritage" will relate to tribal freedom fighters, traditional art and craft, tribal languages and the contribution of tribal communities to Indian history. The theme of the slogan and tagline competition is "Preserve, protect and celebrate tribal heritage".

All officers concerned have been directed to give special importance to local tribal culture, traditions, folk art, languages and regional heroes in the programmes. The activities are to be held in a dignified and inclusive atmosphere. Active participation of parents, local public representatives and the community along with students is also to be ensured.