KULLU DUSSEHRA
KULLU DUSSEHRA
Dussehra festival is celebrated every year all over India as the victory of good over evil. On this day, the victory of Lord Shri Ram is celebrated by burning the effigy of Ravana. But there is also a place where the effigy of Ravana is neither burnt nor stories are told. We are talking about the famous Dussehra festival of Kullu.
Which is a unique festival in the whole world where not humans but gods come to meet each other. This happens only in Dev Bhoomi Himachal. A Dussehra which is not related to Ramayana but to a 400-year-old incident that took place in Kullu Valley. This festival is celebrated at the Raghunath Temple of Kullu, which is the famous temple of Lord Shri Ram. In this temple there is a thumb size statue of Lord Shri Ram made in Ashwamedh Yagya.
The identity of the Dussehra festival is the Saffron colored band which is applied over the Himachali cap.(Pahadi topi)
The Dussehra of Kullu starts on the same day when Dussehra is celebrated all over the country. This international festival lasts for 7 days. Gods and Goddesses are the special guests of this festival. The process of coming of the deities starts from the morning itself. Bijli Mahadev of Kullu Valley has been given the first status in this festival. Similarly, Shri Hadimba Devi of Manali is believed to be the grandmother of the Kullu kings. They arrive first in this festival.
Then comes the most special moment where the meeting of the Gods and Goddesses begins. The energy of the Gods and Goddesses, their own dancing, running, the palanquin becoming heavy and light in miraculous ways, all these can be experienced only by coming here. The faces of the deities which are made of silver are called mohras and they look very attractive. This festival is also called "Dev Mahakumbh".
The history of Kullu Dussehra is not related to Ramayana but to an incident in Kullu Valley. In 16 AD, when Jagat Singh was the king here, someone accused a Brahmin of theft. As a result, King Jagat Singh started suffering due to disease. A nearby scholar advised the king that you can be cured of this disease. If you install the idol of Rajaram ji in Kullu during Ashwamedh Yagya from Ayodhya. Hand over the throne of Kullu to Shri Ram and engage yourself in his service. The king did the same and started serving Lord Shri Ram. He donated all his wealth. Since then this festival came into existence.
On this day at 4:00 am a procession is taken out which is called Narsingari Jaleb. For the last 400 years the procession reaches the ground of Dhalpur which is 2 km away from the temple.
On the way, people stand with glee to see Lord Rama, Sita and Hanuman. These moments are very special when Lord Shri Ram comes out in the presence of other deities.
Some chariots are made to carry the yatra from Dhalpur Chowk to the fair ground. Raghunath ji stays in this ground for 7 days. This festival is called Dashami here. The people here believe that on this day around 1000 gods and goddesses come here from Dev Lok. On the seventh day it is taken to the banks of the Beas River where Lanka is symbolically burnt. After this the chariot is brought back and Lord Raghunath is reinstated.
In this way, the world famous Dussehra of Kullu is celebrated enthusiastically.
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