Kullu: The international Kullu Dussehra celebrations began on Sunday with the Lord Raghunath's procession. This year, the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were clearly visible. The special thing about Kullu Dussehra is that here the festivities begin when Dussehra is over in the rest of the country. This time Kullu Dussehra will continue from 25 October to 31 October.
Only 8 Lords graced Dussehra with their presence
Hundreds of deities used to be seen at Kullu Dussehra every time. This is the first time that only 8 deities and only 200 devotees could participate in the Rath Yatra. The Rath lords Bijli Mahadev, Nag Dhumbal, Brahma, Gohari, Jamlu Rishi, Lakshmi Narayan, Goddess Hidimba, Tripura Sundari could be seen in the procession. As soon as Lord Raghunath reached Dhalpur, the Maidan Dhol resonated with the beat of drums and the atmosphere became devotional. Lord Raghunath was seated on a chariot after being worshipped. Later, the Rath Yatra continued on its way.
Lord Raghunath to stay for 7 days
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During the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath, he was welcomed and blessed by the Gods and Goddesses of various areas. Now, Lord Raghunath will stay in his temporary camp in Dhalpur for the next 7 days. On the 7th day the chariot will be brought back to the same place and then the Lord will be restored in his temple which will conclude the Kullu Dussehra.
Kullu Dussehra's excitement is missing
The adverse effects of Corona could be seen in this year’s Kullu Dussehra. This time there were no crowds of devotees or tourists and the markets which added excitement to the procession were absent too. During the Rath Yatra, the nearby markets were kept closed by the police administration.
Police personnel was deployed at different places to keep the crowd in check and to make sure that all guidelines are followed.
In view of the small crowd at the procession, the journey of Lord Raghunath was also aired on social media so that devotees could enjoy it from the safe distances of their homes. Most people were satisfied to see the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath on social media.
The adverse effects of Corona
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This time the usual hundreds of Gods and Goddesses, huge crowds of devotees and tourists were absent from the event. Due to Corona, only 8 deities along with only 200 devotees participated in the Rath Yatra. All of them followed the guidelines and wore masks. Apart from this, only a few people were allowed to join with every deity. The Kullu Dussehra is famous for its Himachali food and culture, but this time due to Corona, they could not be enjoyed. All types of business activities have been banned in Dussehra but the cultural programs will take place as before.
