Kullu Dussehra—A royal celebration amidst mountains and valleys

If you thought that the beautiful hill station of Kullu in Himachal is famous only for its natural beauty, then you must witness Kullu Dussehra celebrations. The history of Dussehra celebrations in the district goes back to the 17th century. The time, when the region of Kullu was ruled by the royals! The kind of celebrations that happen in Kullu on the day of Dussehra is completely different from the rest of the country.

History of Dussehra in Kullu

According to a local legend, a Brahmin priest was accidentally killed by Kullu’s king Raja Jagat Singh around the 17th century. To make up for his act, the king left his throne and put an idol of Lord Raghunath on the empty throne and pledged that only the lord and his successors would rule the Kingdom of Kullu from then on. Later, the king went to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram, and got his statue and placed it on his throne. It is believed that Lord Raghunath invites other gods from heaven to celebrate Dussehra in Kullu since then.

How is Dussehra celebrated in Kullu?
The celebrities are a little different as on the day of Dussehra, the devotees in Kullu carry out a procession wherein they carry the idols of different gods on their heads and meet Lord Raghunath (Lord Ram) in the temple. Hundreds of gods are brought on the temple grounds on the day of Dussehra, including Hadimba (the prime deity of the Kullu kings) and Jamlu Rishi (the deity of Malana village) among others. During this seven-day festival, the residents indulge in various entertaining cultural activities such as dancing, singing and other cultural programmes.


The festivities not only attract locals but also a number of international travellers, who visit Kullu to witness the grand celebrations. All these activities are performed in proximity to the gorgeous Beas river. On the last day, a pile of wood is collected and devotees put fire to it; the practice is symbolic of destroying and burning the home of Ravana, Lanka.

So, if you are planning on witnessing Kullu Dussehra and want to be a part of such vibrant fanfare, do not forget to get your tickets for Kullu booked as soon as possible.

Happy Dussehra!