Kullu Dasehra: The tradition and legacy of Himachal’s mega-festival

The famous Kullu Dasehra festival traces its origins back to the reign of King Jagat Singh of Kullu, who ruled from 1637 to 1662. In 1650, on the king’s instructions, thumb-sized golden idols of Lord Raghunath and Sita were brought from Ayodhya to Kullu. The idols were temporarily kept at Makrahad, on the border of Kullu and Mandi, before being moved to Manikaran in the Rupi Valley and eventually to Naggar.

In 1660, a temple for Lord Raghunath was established in the Sultanpur area of Kullu town, and the idols were formally enshrined there. King Jagat Singh, in a gesture of deep reverence, handed over his entire kingdom to Lord Raghunath and declared himself the Chharibardar, or chief caretaker, of the deity. This marked the beginning of the Dasehra celebration in Kullu, as the king invited the deities from the entire valley, who accepted Lord Raghunath as their chief.

According to local folklore, the arrival of the idols from Ayodhya was connected to the king’s mysterious illness. It is said that the illness was the result of a curse following the tragic death of a Brahmin named Durgadutt and his family. The king, mistakenly believing that Durgadutt possessed pure pearls, had demanded them from the Brahmin. In fear of the king’s wrath, Durgadutt and his family committed self-immolation. Soon after, the king fell victim to a strange and incurable sickness.

Seeking a cure, the king turned to his spiritual guide, Taranath, who advised him to consult the sage Krishandas Payhari. Krishandas suggested that the illness could only be cured if the idols of Rama and Sita, crafted during the Ashwamedha Yagna, were brought from the Tretanath temple in Ayodhya and installed in Kullu.

The task of retrieving the idols was entrusted to Damodar Das, a disciple of the sage with the mystical ability of teleportation (Gutka Vidhi). After spending a year serving the priests of the Tretanath temple, Damodar Das succeeded in absconding with the idols and journeyed to Haridwar. Though the temple priests caught up with him, they were unable to lift the idols, a feat that Damodar Das accomplished with ease. This was interpreted as divine approval for Lord Raghunath’s departure to Kullu.

Once the idols arrived in Kullu, King Jagat Singh ceremonially washed the feet of Lord Raghunath’s idol and drank the water, which miraculously cured him of his illness. Since then, the Dasehra festival has been celebrated annually, with only a few exceptions. The festival remains an important event in the region, with its traditional rituals still observed. Although some aspects of the celebration, such as the trade fair and cultural events, have evolved over time and are now organised by the local administration, the core traditions of the festival continue to honour its historical roots.