Kullu Dussehra

A unique week-long festival where over 200 village deities are carried in palanquins to honour Lord Raghunath — a grand convergence of Himachali hill culture.

The festival dates back to the 17th century when Raja Jagat Singh installed an idol of Lord Raghunath brought from Ayodhya to rid himself of a severe curse. He abdicated his throne to the deity, decreeing that all local gods must visit Kullu annually to pay allegiance to Raghunath.

Villagers carry their local deities in beautifully decorated wooden palanquins across steep mountain passes to Kullu. The week is filled with folk dances, community feasts, traditional music played on long horns, and a bustling market at the Dhalpur Maidan.

The festival begins with the Rath Yatra, where a massive wooden chariot carrying Lord Raghunath is pulled by thousands of devotees. It culminates on the seventh day with the Lankadahan ceremony, where a pile of brushwood is burned on the banks of the Beas River to symbolize the destruction of Lanka.

Local communities believe that the mountain deities travel to the valley to interact with human beings and bless the land. Local shamans (Gurs) enter trance states to channel the voices of the gods, offering advice and solving disputes for the villagers.

The festival was established in 1651 AD by Raja Jagat Singh to unify his fractious mountain kingdom under a shared religious identity. It is now known well beyond India and recognised by the Indian government.

Kullu Dussehra fills the mountain valley with a display of color and sound. The air echoes with the deep, haunting tones of long brass trumpets (karnals) and traditional drums. You will see hundreds of brightly draped palanquins swaying through the crowds as village groups dance the traditional Nati dance. The entire town transformed into a lively marketplace, where the deep devotion of the mountain folk blends with a festive, celebratory atmosphere.