Kullu Dussehra Begins with a Spectacular Procession

The week-long Kullu Dussehra festival commenced on Thursday with a grand spectacle steeped in devotion and tradition. Idols of Lord Raghunath, along with those of Sita, Hanuman, and other deities, were ceremoniously brought from their sanctum in Sultanpur to Dhalpur in ornately decorated palanquins.

The festival opened with a majestic Rath Yatra, led by Maheshwar Singh, head of the erstwhile royal family of Rupi (Kullu) Valley, accompanied by his descendants. The deities were placed in a beautifully reconstructed wooden chariot, known as the Rath, making a vibrant return after 15 years.

As per tradition, the Rath Yatra begins at sunset, signaled by a flag unfurled by Goddess Bekhli from a nearby hill. Following this divine cue, hundreds of devotees pulled the chariot from the Rath ground to the camp temple of Lord Raghunath at the center of Dussehra Maidan. Upholding a unique custom, the deity Dhumbar Nag played a symbolic role in crowd control, ensuring order as thousands of devotees and onlookers joined the procession.

The atmosphere reverberated with chants of “Jai Siya Ram”, accompanied by local deities in palanquins, traditional bands, and waves of devotees. Among the distinguished guests was Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, who witnessed the historic celebration.

Earlier, rituals were performed at the Raghunath Temple in Sultanpur. A significant moment was the arrival of Goddess Hadimba from Manali, revered as the “grandmother” of the royal family, symbolizing continuity of sacred traditions. The police and Home Guards led the procession from Sarvari and Lower Dhalpur, while residents along the route paid homage to the main deity.

Men, women, and children dressed in traditional attire, along with hundreds of domestic and international tourists, gathered to witness the vibrant spectacle. The rhythmic beat of dhols and the melodious strains of the shehnai filled the air with devotion and festivity. Later, the idols were installed at the camp temple in Dhalpur, where rituals and divine assemblies will continue throughout the festival.

Celebrated since the mid-17th century, Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami—the day when festivities elsewhere in India conclude. Unique to this region, the event brings together all the deities of Kullu district, making it a truly divine congregation.