A Festival in the Valley of the Gods (Devbhoomi)
High up in the Pir Panjal ranges of Himachal Pradesh, Dussehra doesn’t celebrate the burning of Ravana — it celebrates the grand meeting of the gods. In local belief, every Himalayan valley has its own living deity (Gram Devta). On Vijayadashami, these deities are brought down from high-altitude village shrines on wooden palanquins draped in colorful silk and silver ornaments to camp at the Dhalpur Ground in Kullu.
The energy is magnetic. Shamans (Gurs) enter spiritual trances, village elders play hypnotic 6-foot brass horns, and in the evening, thousands of locals hold hands in gigantic spiral lines dancing the traditional Kullvi Nati around wood fires.
How to Combine Kullu Dussehra with an Autumn Manali Holiday
October is hands down the best month to visit Himachal Pradesh. The monsoon rains have stopped, apple orchards in Kullu and Naggar are heavy with crimson fruit, the skies are crystal blue, and snow dusts the high peaks.
• Day 1: Arrive in Kullu via Bhuntar Airport or drive up from Chandigarh via the scenic Kiratpur-Manali 4-lane highway.
• Day 2: Spend the day at Dhalpur Ground watching the pulling of Lord Raghunath’s massive wooden chariot (Rath Yatra).
• Day 3: Drive 40 minutes north to Manali: explore Old Manali cafes, Hadimba Temple, and take a dip in the natural hot sulphur springs at Vashisht.
• Day 4: Drive through the 9.02 km Atal Tunnel to Sissu in Lahaul Valley to marvel at high-altitude mountain waterfalls and autumn golden poplar trees.
• Day 5: Return to Kullu for evening festival cultural performances, handicraft shopping (authentic Kullu caps, pure Pashmina shawls, and wild honey), and departure.
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How is Kullu Dussehra different from other Dussehra celebrations?
Kullu Dussehra starts on Vijayadashami (instead of ending on it) and lasts for 7 full days. It does not involve burning effigies of Ravana; instead, it is a grand congregation of over 250 local village deities paying homage to Lord Raghunath.