Read the statements about the Goncha Festival of Bastar:
1.) Tupki, a mock gun made of bamboo, uses Goncha fruit as bullets.
2.) The chariot procession was started by Chalukya rulers.
3.) Rath Yatra begins on Ashadh Shukla Dashmi and ends on Dutiya.
Which of the above statements are correct?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Only 1 and 2.
• Tupki uses Goncha fruit (wild berries) as bullets during celebrations, making statement 1 correct.
• The Rath Yatra tradition in Bastar is believed to have started under Chalukya rulers, making statement 2 correct.
• Rath Yatra begins on Ashadh Shukla Dwitiya, not Dashmi, so statement 3 is incorrect.
Information Booster
• Goncha Festival is celebrated in Jagdalpur, Bastar district, Chhattisgarh.
• It coincides with the Jagannath Rath Yatra.
• The festival reflects tribal martial traditions of Bastar.
• Goncha fruit grows in local forest regions of Bastar.
Additional Knowledge
• Bastar region is known for Dussehra of Bastar, the longest Dussehra festival in India.
• Chalukyas ruled parts of central India between 6th–12th century CE.
• Rath Yatra is primarily associated with Lord Jagannath of Puri, Odisha.
• Tribal festivals often integrate local weapons, forests, and folklore.