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Devotees take out procession as Holi festivities begin in Kullu

40-day event centers around Lord Raghunath
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Procession of Lord Raghunath (Rama) being taken out on the occasion of Basant Panchami in Kullu. Tribune Photo
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A unique 40-day Holi event began in Kullu yesterday, with hundreds of devotees participating in a vibrant procession marking the beginning of the festival, which will culminate on March 14. The festivities centre around the idol of Lord Raghunath (Rama).

The palanquin, carrying the idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Hanuman, was brought from Raghunath Temple located in Sultanpur to Dhalpur ground in Kullu amid a sea of devotees, where people joyfully threw gulal at each other in a display of community spirit and reverence.

This annual celebration, rooted in a centuries-old tradition, began with the arrival of Lord Raghunath’s palanquin at the Dhalpur ground. Devotees, dressed in colorful attire, joined in the procession, singing devotional songs and marking the occasion with exuberant celebrations. The air reverberated with the sounds of drums and trumpets, while a massive crowd gathered around the chariot to offer their obeisance to Lord Raghunath.

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Kullu royal family also joined the procession, who play crucial role to perform the religious rituals in this event. Maheshwar Singh, scion of Kullu royal family, is the chief care taker of Lord Raghunath Temple.

According to residents, the origins of this unique tradition date back to 1660 AD when the then ruler of the Kullu kingdom, King Jagat Singh, brought the idol of Lord Raghunath from Ayodhya and installed it at Sultanpur in Kullu. Since then, the people of Kullu have been following the tradition of celebrating Holi by applying gulal to the idol of Lord Raghunath and participating in festivities that span several weeks.

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“The festivities start from Basant Panchami, which marks the beginning of the spring season, and continue until the grand celebration of Holi on March 14,” said Ashish Sharma, a local.

“Here in Kullu, Basant Panchami has a special significance as it is associated with Lord Rama, Sita and Hanuman, and the idol of Raghunath is bathed in colours as part of this long celebration,” he added.

According to spectators, this tradition not only highlights the religious importance of the festival in Kullu but also showcases the rich cultural heritage of the region.

As the 40-day celebration unfolds, people from several parts of the valley are expected to join the festivities, making it a grand event of both spiritual significance and community bonding.

“The 40-day Holi festivities in Kullu are a testament to the enduring nature of local customs and deep devotion of its people to Lord Raghunath,” said Rajiv Kumar, another resident.

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