Overview
- The week-long International Kullu Dussehra opened on Wednesday at Dhalpur Ground with Governor Kavinder Gupta formally inaugurating the festival and the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath after officials invited more than 347 village deities to assemble.
- Thousands of people, including domestic and foreign tourists, filled the chariot ground to watch the palanquins and rituals that mark the Dev Maha Kumbh and await the ceremonial arrival of Goddess Hidimba from Manali.
- Kullu administration divided the town into six security sectors and deployed 1,265 additional police personnel plus 140 home‑guard jawans while implementing a traffic plan to manage large crowds and ensure public safety.
- The governor used the opening to frame the festival as a platform for preserving local culture, campaigning against social ills such as drug abuse, promoting environmental protection, and supporting the state’s Viksit Bharat@2047 goals.
- Rooted in a tradition dating back to the reign of Raja Jagat Singh, the week-long event continues to run through the coming days and is expected to boost local handicraft sales, generate seasonal jobs, and raise Kullu’s profile for tourism.