Kullu: Under the shadow of a raging Covid 19 pandemic, no cultural performances and commercial activities will be held during the International Dussehra festival Kullu this year. This decision was taken in a meeting held in district headquarters by Dussehra committee.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Govind Singh Thakur said, “Dussehra will be celebrated from 25th-31st October, but we can’t ignore the threat of Covid 19. To consider religious sentiments and keep the long traditions of the festival going it has been decided to perform only important rituals during the festival.”
“Keeping in view the cultural and the traditional importance of ‘Rath-Yatra’ not more than 100 devotees (with Covid test done) would be allowed to participate. They all will have to follow the proper precautions like use of sanitizer, masks and social distancing to stay safe. Even local deities of districts are not participating this time, only some religous symbols of Goddess Hidimba, Goddess Tripura Sundari, Bijali Mahadev ( Lord Shiva), Shri Lakshami Narayan and Lord Bramha will be present to perform the ritual on much smaller scale “, Thakur said.
Dr Richa Verma, the district magistrate (DC Kullu) appealed to the public to celebrate this festival at home with joy and safety rather than causing unnecessary crowding in the markets because crowds are proving to be dangerous for public health nowadays.
Custodian of Lord Raghunath, Maheshwar Singh, scion of the former royal house of Kullu, public representatives Sunder Singh Thakur and Kishori Lal, Sub Divisional Officer Amit Guleriya and members of district deities association participated in the meeting.
Dussehra is Kullu is the most important festival of the valley and particiapting in the ‘Rath Yatra’ is considered very auspacious by the people and local deities of the region, who congregate to the venue in hundreds along with their followers.
A theater artist, a script writer and a TV anchor, news is something that grips Renuka. She lives in Kullu.
