StatesHimachal Pradesh
Hundreds of valley deities join Lord Narasimha's procession on Kullu Dussehra's third day
The Narasimha Jaleb wound out of Dhalpur on Friday afternoon to drums and shehnai, while folk dance teams opened their contest at the Kalakendra.
Key points
- The Narasimha Jaleb set out from Raja ki Chanani in Dhalpur on Friday afternoon.
- Hundreds of village deities from the valley took part with their devotees.
- The week-long festival ends with Lanka Dahan on 27 October.
The third day of the International Kullu Dussehra belonged to Lord Narasimha. On Friday afternoon his procession, the Narasimha Jaleb, set out from Raja ki Chanani in Dhalpur, with hundreds of deities from across the Kullu valley joining in, borne by their devotees.
Drums, nagaras, the long karnal horns and shehnai played as the procession moved through the hospital and college areas and other parts of the town. Crowds lined both sides of the road from the Dhalpur ground to Raja ki Chanani, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Dev Narasimha”. Before it set off, the deities gathered in Dhalpur for a meeting of the devtas.
Lord Narasimha is regarded as the protector deity of the valley. The week-long festival began on Wednesday, 21 October, with the rath yatra of Lord Raghunath, Kullu’s presiding deity. More than 300 village deities were expected at Dhalpur this year.
Across town at the Lal Chand Prarthi Kalakendra, the festival’s folk dance competition got under way on Friday. More than 10 cultural teams from women’s and youth groups performed the nati in traditional Kullvi dress before a panel of four judges, among them Dr Surat Thakur. The contest, run by the District Language Officer, continues on Saturday, and the winners will be honoured at the close of the festival.
Kullu Dussehra ends on 27 October with Lanka Dahan, the burning of Lanka, on its seventh day.