Kullu: The week-long International Kullu Dussehra festival began at Dhalpur Ground on Wednesday with the traditional Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath, drawing more than 300 local deities from across the valley for the annual congregation.Governor Kavinder Gupta inaugurated the festival, describing it as a living expression of Himachal Pradesh’s Dev Sanskriti, folk traditions, collective faith and social harmony. The confluence of divine and folk traditions gave the festival a distinctive place on India’s cultural map, he said.The celebrations began with prayers at the Raghunath temple in Sultanpur, followed by a procession carrying the deity’s wooden chariot to Dhalpur. Members of Kullu’s erstwhile royal family joined the procession, while hundreds of devotees pulled the chariot across the festival ground.Deities in decorated palanquins arrived from across the district, including the Banjar, Sainj, Parvati and Kullu valleys. Some travelled more than 100 km from distant areas such as Anni to attend the annual gathering.The district administration has arranged accommodation for the deities and their devotees at Dhalpur until the festival concludes on Oct 27.Extensive security and traffic arrangements are in place, with 1,125 police personnel and 140 Himachal Home Guards deployed. Security measures include 155 CCTV cameras, drone surveillance and motorcycle patrols.The festival area has been divided into six security sectors, with checkposts at Bajaura Bridge and Hathithan to screen suspicious persons and illegal items. Another 430 police and Home Guards personnel will manage traffic.The administration has designated 18 parking sites across Kullu town, with a combined capacity of around 2,050 vehicles. Traffic diversions will remain in force in phases until Nov 8.
