Dushehra Celebration in Kulu and Mysore

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Dushehra Celebration in Kulu and Mysore

In Kulu, Himachal Pradesh, there is unique Dushehra celebrations.

Dushehra celebrations begin three days after they do in the rest of

India. There is reason for the delay which goes back to the time of

Maharaj Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Punjab. The hill states of

Punjab, now in Himachal Pradesh were under the court at Lahore. The

Maharaj expected all his tutelary kings to be present at his court

during the Dussehra celebrations. The rulers with their retinues

would mount their horses immediately after the celebrations were over

at Lahore, and speed back to their hill kingdoms to celebrate

Dussehra there. It took them three days to reach their states. And

since then the custom of celebrating Dussehra three days late has

continued.

What is different of the celebration of this festival in Kulu is that

instead of burning the effigies of Ravana and his brothers

Kumbhakarna and Meganatha, five animals - a rooster, a fish, a lamb,

a crab, and a buffalo are sacrificed and a pile of wood is burnt

seven days later to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

 

Lavishly decorated idols of village dieites from all over the valley

are brought in palanquins to the venue of the festival. The main

dieties are -- Hidimbaa (Hidimbi), a form of Durga, demon wife of

Bhima and mother of Ghatokacha, is brought in procession from the

pagoda structure temple at Dhungri in Manali. The procession is led

by musicians and dancers performing the Nati dance which is very

popular.

 

On Dusshera Kullu wears a festive look and a huge chariot is

decorated and the idol of Lord Raghunath is decorated, and brought

out of the temple and placed in this chariot. After certain religious

rituals the procession of the chariot is taken out which is followed

by numerous devotees. Nati dancers and musicians lead the procession.

It ends at huge ground where the idol is ceremonial installed for

four days.

 

People form queues to seek the blessings of the Lord. All the gods

and goddess in planquis are also brought from the nearby areas to

Kullu for the occasion. So, that they too seek the blessings of Lord

Raghunath. A large fair is also organized during the festival. This

is a good opportunity for people to buy and stock their provisions

for the harsh winter ahead, as most places become inaccessible due to

snow within a month of the festival.

A large fair organised during the celebrations offers the visitors a

glimpse of the traditional culture of the distant tribal areas of

Lahaul and Spiti, Pangi, Pin and Parvati. Since these areas get

snowbound about twenty days later the fair provides the people living

across the Rohtang Pass an opportunity to purchase their essential

provisions for the long winter months when they are forced to remain

indoors.

 

Mysore

 

Here Dussehra is celebrated marking Durga's triumph over the demon

Mahishasura. The demon is believed to come from the city of Mysore

and therefore it is the most affected by this event. Celebrations to

mark his death are observed on a grand scale. On the Chamundi hill,

at the temple of Durga a regal procession of decorated elephants,

courtiers and court symbols wends its circuitous way to the temple,

decorated splendidly for the festival. On reaching the temple,

prayers are offered to the goddess.