Raghunath Temple And Dhalpur Maidan.Kullu town lies in a broad section of the Beas Valley, surrounded by terraced fields and hills dotted with villages, each with its own devta or devi. The Raghunath Temple is its main shrine, housing an idol of Lord Ram as Raghunathji. Nearby Dhalpur Maidan is the big open ground where markets, sports and especially the famous Kullu Dussehra are held. Every October, hundreds of village deities arrive in palanquins and chariots accompanied by drums and trumpets, turning the entire town into a huge sea of colour, devotion and traditional music.
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History & highlights
The Kullu region has been ruled by local dynasties for many centuries, notably the Pal and Singh rulers. In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh, tormented by guilt over a grave injustice, sought redemption by inviting an idol of Ram from Ayodhya and seating it on his throne. This act made Raghunathji the chief deity of Kullu, and royal authority was symbolically placed under divine rule. To commemorate this, a special Dussehra celebration began, different from the rest of India: when Ramlilas end elsewhere, Kullu Dussehra starts and continues for a week. Village deities come down to Dhalpur to honour Raghunathji, creating a gathering of devtas and people unique to this valley. Under the British and later in independent India, the festival continued and grew into an international event without losing its deep village roots.
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