Kullu: The international Kullu Dussehra festival concluded without the usual fanfare in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though a few people participated in an otherwise grand festival in the Kullu Dussehra to hail the Lord Raghunath, the Rath Yatra was completed with the usual rituals.
Due to the lockdown and other restrictions, only seven deities were able to attend this Dussehra, none the less, the air was heavy with spirituality due to the presence of the various Gods and Goddesses in the Dhalpur Maidan.
After Raghunath's Rath Yatra in the Kullu Dussehra festival, on Saturday, only a limited number of people witnessed the sight of Lanka Dahan.
Therefore, in this Mahakumbh which lasted seven days, neither could the Lord Raghunath be displayed with hundreds of other deities nor could the usual traditions be followed. Lord Raghunath’s Rath Yatra was the only one that could take place amidst the heavy protocols. Members of the royal family Maheshwar Singh, Danvendra Singh, and Hiteshwar Singh, dressed in their traditional costumes, led the Rath Yatra.
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All the deities who arrived here participated in the Rath Yatra for Lanka chadhai. Statues of Ravana and Kumbhkaran, which were made of cow dung, were shot at, and then the 'Lanka' was set on fire. As soon as the Rath Yatra was successfully completed, the deities set out towards their respective places of display.
When the gods did not receive invitations to the Dusshera event, Nag Dhumbal expressed his displeasure outside the offices of the district collector and superintendent of police. After this, the administration reluctantly allowed more people to the Yatra on the condition that they would wear masks.
