Nestled
in the Lap of the Majestic himalayas, Kullu is a veritable jewel in the crown
of Himachal Pradesh. The Breathtaking beauty of its marvelous landscapes, the
hospitality of its people, their distinctive lifestyle and rich culture have
enthralled travelers for aeons.
The
Dev Sanskriti of the valley blends faith, mythology and history to create
and sustain a unique bond between the mundane and the divine. Blessed with
salubrious weather throughout the year, the district is known for the
internationally renowned towns of Kullu and Manali, the pristine beauty of the
Parbati Valley, the teeming biodiversity of the Great Himalayan National Park,
the quaint temple architecture of the hills and several enjoyable trekking
routes across its breadth and width.
Story Of Kullu Dussehra
The
seven-day long international Kullu Dussehra is a mega festival in the state of
Himachal Pradesh celebrated this month. It starts on the sacred day of Vijay
Dashmi. It is believed to be the harbinger of prosperity and signifies the victory
of good over the evil. Some writers of India and abroad have visited the
hazardous Kullu and Lahaul valley which was virtually high mountain and snow
locked valleys of Kullu and Lahaul Dr Hira Nand in his book Kullu and Lahaul
Spiti has written that next to Kashmir and Kangra, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti
valleys were perhaps most ancient and beautiful among the Punjab Hill states.
Swedish
scholar Dr A.V. has also dwelt at length on beauty of the mystic valleys of
Lahaul, Kullu and Spiti valleys. The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsiang had visited
India in AD-630-44 and made mention of Stupa erected by king Ashoka in the
middle of these mystic valleys 187 miles from Jalandhar to commemorate the
visit of Lord Buddha there. The history of Dussehra Festival festival dates
back to the rule of Raja Jagjit Singh in the seventeenth century. He had
installed the idol of God Ragunath on his thrown as a mark of penance when
calamities had befell on him and he had accorded to God Raghunath the status of
a ruling deity of the panoramic valleys now known as the vales of hill gods and
goddesses.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had elevated the
status of Dussehra Festival to an international carnival. Legend has it that
after returning from pilgrimage Maharishi Jamdagni went to his hermitage at
Malana carrying on his head a basket full of eighteen images of different
gods. On the highest pass he was struck
by a high velocity violent storm and the basket was blown to the winds
scattering all the 18 images at different places. People picked up the images
and started worshiping them. It is said that Kullu and Lahaul valleys were very
prosperous those days and free trade was going on among the people of China,
Tibet and the northern hill states of Punjab. The green tea from Kangra and Mandi
was supplied to China and Tibet in large quantity till 1962 when Chinese
aggression on India embittered relations between the two countries.
Raja
Jagjit Singh ruled the panoramic and the most prosperous state of Kullu and
Lahaul Valley in the seventeenth century. According to history a small
happening cast a shadow of gloom on the king. It is said the arrogant king came
to know that an ordinary poor peasant, Durga Datt, was possessing invaluable
pearls with strange powers. King ordered Durga Datt to hand over the pearls to
him or get hanged. Realizing his inevitable end the frightened farmer burnt
himself to death cursing the King that the water he (king) will drink will turn
into blood and his food, rice etc, will become living worms in his food plate.
The
horrified king, it is said, fell on the feet of Brahamins and tantrists begging
to salvage him from the divine curse.
Meanwhile a holy man appeared and ordained him to atone for his sin and
get an image of Shri Raghunath from
Ayodhya and installed him on his throne, the Raja sent a team of Brahmins to
Ayodhya to bring the image of Shri Raghunath. They stole it, but were caught on
the bank of Saryu river. A strange thing
happened. The image, it is said, became very heavy when traken towards Ayudhia,
but became lighter when taken towards Kullu. Finally it was taken to Kullu and
installed on the thrown of the Raja.
Since
then the festival of Dussehra is being celebrated with religious ferver and
fanfare. The decorated image of Lord Raghunath is taken to the sprawling
Dhalpur Ground and installed there. All
other Gods from Kullu and the adjoining Mandi villages which converge of the
Mela ground bow before Lord Raghunath as a mark of respect.
Thank you for reading.
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