The week-long Kullu Dussehra festival got off to a spectacular start today with the traditional Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunathji as the festival signifying the victory of good over evil was celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm here.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat inaugurated the festival by participating in the Rath Yarta along with thousands of devotees at Dhalpur Maidan here.
The celebrations start on Vijaya Dashmi. During the festival, religious rituals and other ceremonies are performed during the day with Raja of Kullu, Maheshwar Singh, custodian of lord Raghunathji and chief of Kardar Sangh is centre of all ceremonies.
Colourful cultural programmes are held in the evening throughout the festival which ends with Lanka Dahan (burning of Lanka) on the seventh day (October 28).
Kullu Dussehra is unique and starts when Dussehra festival ends in other parts of the country and no effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran are burnt.
Starting with Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunthji, ceremonies continue and on the sixth day, the assembly of Devtas takes place in which all the village gods participate with their followers and band of mustiness participate in the assembly.
On the concluding day, the Rath is pulled near to the bank of the river Beas, where a pile of thorn bushes is set on fire that symbolises the burning of Lanka.
