सनातन पुस्तकालय Sanatan Cultural Library

Kullu Dussehra is tied to the history of the valley's former rulers. Tradition tells that in the seventeenth century Raja Jagat Singh, afflicted by a wrong done to a Brahmin, was counselled that only Lord Raghunath could absolve him; an image of Raghunath ji was brought from Ayodhya, installed at Kullu, and the raja dedicated his kingdom to the deity, ruling thereafter as the Lord's servant. From that time the valley's many village devtas — each with its own temple, oracle and musicians — were summoned to pay homage to Raghunath at Dussehra, and the gathering became the festival we know. Because the valley's celebration begins on Vijayadashami itself, the day the rest of India burns Ravana, Kullu Dussehra carries on for a week after Dussehra ends elsewhere. The festival has been accorded international status, drawing visitors from across India and abroad.

On Vijayadashami the image of Raghunath ji is placed on a wooden rath, and the chariot is drawn by ropes across the Dhalpur maidan amid an immense crowd — the pulling of the ropes is itself considered a blessing. Hundreds of devi-devtas from villages across the valley arrive in decorated palanquins on the shoulders of their bearers, with drums, narsinghas and dancing, and encamp around the maidan for the week; the goddess Hadimba of Manali holds a place of special honour, and no devta may leave before the festival closes. The days fill with darshan at the deities' camps, folk performances and a great trade fair. On the final day the rath is drawn to the banks of the Beas, where a pile of wood and grass is set alight as Lanka Dahan, symbolising the burning of Lanka, and animal sacrifice that traditionally accompanied the closing rite has been curtailed following court intervention, with symbolic offerings now common. Raghunath ji then returns to his temple.

This is a festival of one Himalayan valley — its devtas do not travel, and there is no equivalent gathering to recreate abroad. What Ottawa families can do is keep Vijayadashami itself: an evening pooja to Shri Rama, reading the closing chapters of the Ramayana, and the shami or aparajita traditions of the day. Those with roots in Himachal often mark the week by video-calling family at the mela, following the extensive coverage the festival receives, or planning an October visit — Kullu is reachable via Delhi and Chandigarh, and the festival week is the valley's most vivid season. The site's calendar gives each year's Vijayadashami date for Ottawa, which is also the opening day at Dhalpur.