Kullu Dussehra: International Festival of Devtas

The Kullu Dussehra festival held in October in the Kullu valley is one of India's most spectacular festivals, declared an International Festival, where over 200 village deities (Devtas) from across the valley converge at the Dhalpur Maidan in a grand procession. Each Devta arrives on its decorated palanquin (Rath) carried by devotees wearing traditional Kullu dress. The deity processions create a moving panorama of Himachali folk art, traditional music, and communal devotion. The seven-day festival begins with Lord Raghunath being brought in procession and ends with symbolic burning of Lanka on the banks of the Beas river. The festival maintains the social fabric connecting dispersed mountain communities through shared devotional participation. Traditional arts including Nati dance and folk music accompany every stage.