No Kullu Nati this Dussehra

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Kullu, July 31

Kullu Nati (folk dance), which got recognition at the international level in January 2016 after it was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest folk dance in the world, will no more be a charm of Kullu Dussehra festival this year.

The event, termed as Pride of Kullu, was dedicated to girlchild. Recorded on October 26, 2015, as many as 9,892 women donning traditional colourful Kulluvi dress participated in this folk dance at historical Dhalpur Ground and displayed the splendid Nati.

The locals were hoping that the dance would be organised like last year when it not only helped spread the message of ‘save girlchild’ but also brought Kullu tradition on the world map.

However, official sources say the Dussehra Committee was not in favour to ensure more participation of village women due to high expenditure.

Kubja Thakur, a resident of town who had been participating in the event for the past two years, said the participation of more women should be encouraged and the authorities should make efforts to continue the legacy, which was started by the then Deputy Commissioner Kullu Rakesh Kanwar in year 2014 when Kullu folk dance entered the Limca Book of Records after 8,760 women performed in it at the Kullu Dussehra festivities.

A majority of participants rue that cutting short the event will not be a perfect idea, which was initiated for a noble cause.

It also gave a chance to the people of district, especially womenfolk to ensure their participation in the event.

A meeting was held recently under the chairmanship of State Ayurveda Minister Karan Singh at Kullu to ensure preparation for the upcoming Dussehra festival scheduled between October 11 and 17 this year, where the focus will be on promoting sport.

Deputy Commissioner Kullu Hans Raj Chauhan, “The thought is under consideration and we are thinking how the legacy be taken forward. Kullu Dussehra remains a big attraction for foreign and domestic scholars, who visit the district to study the culture, where more than 300 deities congregate in Kullu town to mark the event”.