Kullu Dasehra: Where deities meet devotees

Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh stands apart from the rest of India in its unique and deeply spiritual celebration of Dasehra. While most regions mark the festival with the burning of Ravana’s effigy, Kullu transforms into a sacred landscape of devotion, hosting festivities at five distinct locations: Dhalpur, Manikaran, Naggar Thawa, Haripur and Vashisht.

At the heart of the celebration is the seven-day extravaganza in Dhalpur, accompanied by a vibrant trade fair that continues for a month. Yet, the spirit of Dasehra pulses equally through the other sites, each offering its own cultural flavour while sharing a common reverence. At Manikaran, Haripur and Naggar Thawa, local deities actively participate in the rituals. A grand Rath Yatra (chariot procession) of Lord Shri Ramchandra is held in Manikaran, joined by numerous divine figures, including Mata Naina Devi, infusing the event with celestial grandeur. Haripur and Naggar Thawa also host majestic processions, continuing the legacy of faith and devotion.

The origins of Kullu Dasehra trace back to the mid-17th century, when Raja Jagat Singh initiated the celebration to atone for the sin of Brahmahatya (the killing of a Brahmin). Guided by his spiritual mentor Taranath, the king sought the wisdom of sage Krishandas Payhari. The sage advised that the king’s affliction could be cured if the sacred idols of Rama and Sita — crafted during the Ashwamedha Yagna — were brought from the Tretanath temple in Ayodhya and installed in Kullu.

Entrusted with this divine mission, Krishandas sent his disciple Damodar Das, who brought thumb-sized golden idols of Lord Raghunath and Sita to Kullu in 1650. The idols were first placed in Makrahad near the Kullu-Mandi border, and then moved to Manikaran in the Rupi Valley, and later to Naggar. In 1660, the Raghunath Temple was established in Sultanpur, Kullu, where the idols were finally enshrined.

Legend holds that Raja Jagat Singh washed the feet of Lord Raghunath’s idol and drank the water, miraculously curing his illness. In a profound act of devotion, he surrendered his kingdom to Lord Raghunath and became the deity’s ‘Chharibardar’ — chief caretaker. He invited deities from across the valley and thus began the tradition of celebrating Dasehra in Kullu.

Over the centuries, Kullu Dasehra has evolved into a festival of immense historical, cultural and spiritual significance. It showcases the region’s rich tapestry of folk music, traditional dance and Kullvi customs, serving as a vibrant symbol of Himachal’s living heritage.

Today, while the festival retains its spiritual essence, it has also grown into a major economic and social event, attracting lakhs of visitors and generating crores in trade and tourism. As Sunder Singh Thakur, MLA and Chairman of the Dasehra Festival Committee, aptly puts it, “Dasehra in Kullu has not only preserved our divine traditions but has also become a vibrant celebration of our culture and faith.”

Perhaps the most striking feature of Kullu Dasehra is its departure from the conventional ritual of burning effigies. While the rest of India concludes Dasehra with the symbolic destruction of evil, Kullu begins its celebration on that very day. For an entire week, over 300 deities converge in divine rituals and processions, transforming the valley into a magnificent “Dev Mahakumbh” — a confluence of gods, devotees and timeless tradition.