📍 Location: Dhalpur Ground, Kullu Town, Himachal Pradesh
📅 Season: October (starts on Vijaya Dashami, unlike elsewhere in India)
A divine congregation where hundreds of deities descend to celebrate the victory of righteousness
🕉️ A Festival That Begins When Others End
While most of India concludes Dussehra with the burning of Ravana’s effigy, Kullu begins its grandest celebration on that day. The festival marks Lord Raghunath’s arrival at Dhalpur, accompanied by over 200 village deities from the valley’s temples—each carried in ornate palanquins, led by musicians, and cheered by villagers.
🛕 Legend has it that Raja Jagat Singh invited Lord Rama to be the true king of Kullu. Since then, Lord Raghunath is revered as the reigning deity, and Dussehra is held in his honor—not with fireworks, but with divine dialogues and processions.
🔔 Rituals That Move Mountains
The heart of the fair is devotional, vibrant, and spectacular:
- Rath Yatra (Chariot Procession): Lord Raghunath’s chariot is pulled by ropes across the Dhalpur Ground, surrounded by dancing villagers and chanting priests
- Devta Sabha: Over 200 gods and goddesses convene symbolically, their palanquins placed in concentric circles—known as the ‘Dev Durbar’
- Traditional Offerings: Each deity offers ornaments, grains, and ritual gestures toward Lord Raghunath’s shrine
The procession becomes a living bridge of myth, worship, and historical continuity.
🎭 Cultural Grandeur & Folk Vibrance
Beyond devotion, Kullu Dussehra showcases Himachal’s artistic soul:
- Daily Performances: Folk dances like Nati, Karyala, and Dangi, performed by local and regional troupes
- Handicraft Exhibitions: Woolens, metalwork, shawls, and Kullu caps sold across colorful stalls
- International Pavilion: Artists and visitors from countries like Russia, Bhutan, and Nepal join with their own performances and crafts
🎶 Music echoes with drums, horns, and flutes—each beat narrating ancestral tales.
🍛 Feasting in the Divine Court
The fairground turns into a culinary delight:
- Siddu, chana madra, babru, and sweet meethe chawal served from food stalls
- Langars and Community Kitchens: Set up by local temples and families, reinforcing unity and seva
- Prasad from Deities: Often dry fruits and sweets passed through palanquin bearers to devotees
Every meal is a gesture of offering—from nature, through community, to divinity.
✨ Why Kullu Dussehra is Unparalleled
It’s not about pyrotechnics—it’s about:
- Spiritual reunion of deities across districts
- Cultural preservation through music, costume, and ritual
- Global and local unity—a celebration that’s timeless and borderless
This is Himachal’s divine parliament in motion, where gods speak through chants, drums, and processions.
🧭 Plan Your Visit
- Best Time: October (starts on Vijaya Dashami, lasts 7 days)
- Where to Stay: Hotels in Kullu, homestays in Bhuntar, or guesthouses in nearby villages
- Getting There: Nearest airport: Bhuntar (Kullu-Manali); regular buses from Mandi and Manali
- Pro Tip: Reach early for the Rath Yatra, and stay till sunset for the Dev Durbar’s golden glow
