"A Huge Procession Filled with Music, Dance and Culture"
A week-long festival celebrated in majestic style in
northern India, Kullu Dussehra is one of the most popular events of
Himachal Pradesh, signifying the victory of good over evil. It draws
the travelers from distant parts of the globe. It is held in the Dhalpur
maidan at Kullu in Himachal Pradesh state. Kullu is known for its
beautiful gorges, wondrous waterfalls, chatty mountain stream and
ancient temples which are certainly going to enthrall you especially
during the Kullu Dussehra festival.
Dating back to the 17th century, Kullu Dussehra
starts on Vijaya Dashmi and lasts for seven days in the month of
October. It is a lovely blend of rich culture, history and ritual.This
festival is only held to celebrate the success of good over evil. While
music and color create a peaceful ambience, thousands of people gather
on the first day of celebration to pay respect to Lord Raghunathji. The
first day is started with huge celebration and on this day the statue of
Lord Raghunathji is installed on a beautifully designed chariot, which
is graced with the presence of village gods and goddess, is pulled by
ropes by the locals from its place to different sites across the Maidan.
The following days are celebrated with great
devotion, and many an individual takes participate in singing and
dancing during the festival. The fair is fulfilled with the burning of
the Lanka. On the last day of the festival, the chariot is brought by
the banks of Beas River where a mass of wood grass is burnt, signifying
the burning of Lanka.
Reflecting the Rich and Colorful History of Kullu Dussehra
According to the mythology, Kullu was under the control of Raja Jagat Singh in the 16th century. At some point he got to know that someone by the name of Durgadutt had charming pearls. The Raja tried everything to have that pearls. Though Durgadutt made him clear that the information was not correct, all his requests were hopeless. He offered him the last chance of giving the pearls but he did not and as a result Durgadutt set himself and his own family on fire and cursed the Raja Jagat Singh for his brutality. Thereafter, he felt guilty and took advice form a Brahmin. The sacred man asked him to get back the statue of Lord Raghunath from the kingdom of Lord Ram. Worried, the Raja decided to send the Brahmin to Ayodhya.
One day, he took the statue and started his way back trip to Kullu. When
the locals of Ayodhya came to know that the idol of Lord Raghunath was
missing, they left in search of him. The people found the Brahmin with
Raghunath ji on the banks of Saryu River. Then he started telling them
the story of the king. When the people picked up the idol while heading
towards Ayodhya it was heavy, but to their amazement the idol became
light as they moved to Kullu. When the Brahmin reached Kullu, the idol
of Raghunath ji was installed. Subsequently, the king had a sip of the
Charan-Amrit of the statue of the Raghunath ji and the curse was
repealed. This myth is associated with the Kullu Dusshera.
