Deities to reach Kullu for Dussehra festivities

  • | Friday | 19th October, 2018

KULLU: Carried by thousands of devotees over many days, palanquins of over 250 deities would reach the historical Dhalpur Maidan of Kullu on Friday to participate in the historical weeklong International Dussehra festivities The festivities would start after the deities join rath yatra of Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of Dussehra, on Friday evening. Some deities have taken up to a week to reach Dussehra venue. A few deities, which belong to far flung areas like Seraj, have their palanquins permanently kept at Kullu. The palanquins of deities in Kullu do not enter any road tunnel and never travel on vehicles. As deities cannot enter underground areas and Aut tunnel was the only way to reach Kullu for deities from Sainj, Banjar and Seraj areas, administration had to rebuild the traditional pathway for deities to reach Kullu.The hydel project management released some water from the dam to give way to the deities.Meanwhile, palanquin of Devi Hidimba reached Kullu on Thursday late evening.

KULLU: Carried by thousands of devotees over many days, palanquins of over 250 deities would reach the historical Dhalpur Maidan of Kullu on Friday to participate in the historical weeklong International Dussehra festivities The festivities would start after the deities join rath yatra of Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of Dussehra, on Friday evening. Some deities have taken up to a week to reach Dussehra venue. A few deities, which belong to far flung areas like Seraj, have their palanquins permanently kept at Kullu. They are decorated only during Dussehra.The Dussehra committee had earlier made it clear that if any deity was brought to Kullu by a vehicle, breaking the century-old tradition, the deity would not be eligible for government facilities during the festival. The palanquins of deities in Kullu do not enter any road tunnel and never travel on vehicles. The devotees cover long distances along with deities on the foot through traditional routes. As the palanquins with precious idols and jewellery are coming from the temples of Kullu to Dussehra venue, the police have increased the patrolling across the district. The deities would stay in camps for the next seven days. Each deity has been given space by the administration where a tent is pitched every year.Devi Devta Kardar Sangh president, Jai Chand Thakur, said: “Our Dussehra is historical and unique. This is the festivity of culture, traditions and deities. All the deities congregate at Kullu to pay obeisance to Lord Raghunath ji. We are trying our best that the festivity should not loose its roots and we try to celebrate it in a similar manner as it was celebrated hundreds years ago. This is the charm that attracts lakhs of people to Kullu.”Incidentally, the traditional route between Larji and Aut had submerged in waters after the hydel project was built on river Beas at Larji and the old submerged road was replaced by a 3kmlong tunnel on national highway. As deities cannot enter underground areas and Aut tunnel was the only way to reach Kullu for deities from Sainj, Banjar and Seraj areas, administration had to rebuild the traditional pathway for deities to reach Kullu.The hydel project management released some water from the dam to give way to the deities.Meanwhile, palanquin of Devi Hidimba reached Kullu on Thursday late evening. Hidimba plays a crucial role in the beginning and the ending of Dussehra.Centuries ago, deities were invited to Kullu by the rajas but now Dussehra committee invites them by sending official invitation letters through SDMs and tehsildars.

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