KULLU: The weeklong Dussehra festivities began here on Friday, the day these ended in the rest of the country. The centuries old festival, which began at Dhalpur ground with the rolling out of Lord Raghunath’s chariot was attended by over 250 deities and their followers, who had reached here especially for the occasion. The local administration had sent invitations to 305 deities for the Dussehra.Thousands of devotees pulled the sacred rath (chariot) of Lord Raghunath. The deities who have already reached here paid obeisance to Lord Raghunath, who is the presiding deity of Dussehra, and returned to their camps where they will stay for the next seven days. The chariot will stay in lower Dussehra ground for six days and will later be pulled to Lanka Bekar, to mark the conclusion of festivities.Dressed in their colourful traditional dress, the royal family of Kullu performed the rituals at the Rajmahal before taking part in the rath yatra. Colourful palanquins of deities decorated with idols and ornaments will be the main attraction for visitors.Deputy inspector general (central range) Kapil Sharma said police guides to help tourists. “The whole venue has been divided into 11 sectors. Six nakas and two special nakas have been set up to check supply of drugs. We have marked 21 parking places and 2,200 jawans are ensuring the safety and security of all. We have special teams to check teasing, riots and pickpocketeers. Cranes and JCBs have been hired for quick action in case of landslides or to tow the vehicles creating traffic chaos,” he said.Over 350 year-old Kullu’s Dussehra is unique and celebrated in a completely different way from rest of the country. No effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnath are burnt here and concludes on six days after Vijayadashmi with the pulling of the chariot of Lord Raghunath and performing of some traditional rituals in presence of deities of Kullu. Himachal governor Acharya Devvrat watched the rath yatra before inaugurating international folk dance festival at Kala Kendra here with the lighting the lamps. Cultural troops from many states and countries will perform here for a week.Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus, who is also the vice-chairman of Dussehra Committee said strict security arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of festivities. “Arrangements have been made for comfortable stay of deities,” he said.

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