Administration mulls online broadcast of Kullu Dasehra ceremonies

Our Correspondent

Kullu, October 14

The district administration is mulling online broadcast of the Dasehra ceremonies so that the masses can watch these from their homes amid restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Kullu Dasehra Festival Committee had decided that only 100 persons would participate in the ‘rath yatra’ which would be held on the commencement of the festival on October 25. The rituals would be performed for seven days at the camp temple of Lord Raghunath at Dhalpur ground. Every year, a lot of devotees visit the camp temple but their number will be restricted this time. The ‘rath’ will be pulled to Lanka Bekar for the Lanka Dahan ceremony and then taken back to the ground when the festival culminates on October 31.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Richa Verma said meetings were being held to finalise the schedule of the festival. She said live online broadcast of the ceremonies was under consideration to avoid crowding during the seven-day festivities.

Kullu SP Gaurav Singh said as per guidelines, 100 persons would include members of the erstwhile royal family, priests, devotees, mediapersons and some spectators. He said security arrangements would be made as per requirement.

Earlier, the Governor used to inaugurate the festival and the Chief Minister used to preside over the closing ceremony. But this year, there was uncertainty over how the administration would manage the festivities. It requires a large number of people to move the wooden chariot and it will be a tough task to maintain social distance during the ‘rath yatra’.

Hundreds of deities, accompanied by thousands of villagers, come to Dhalpur during the festival from across the district. The deities also participate in the ‘rath yatra’. However, this year only the symbols of seven deities will come to Dhalpur.