Kulu, 2 October (IANS) Amid the presence of more than 300 deities of Himachal Pradesh, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurated the International Kullu Dussehra celebrations of the week here on Thursday.
He also participated in the traditional Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath.
A centuries -old festival, Kullu Dussehra, begins with ‘Vijaya Dashami’, the day the celebrations end in the rest of the country. However, the ‘Evil Empire’ will be destroyed by the deities gathered during the Lank Dahin ceremony on the banks of the Beas river on 8 October. Thousands of devotees pulled the holy chariot (chariot) of Lord Raghunath.
The festival is from 1637 AD, when King Jagat Singh ruled Kullu and invited all the local deities to perform a ritual in honor of Lord Raghunath during Dashar.
According to tradition, devotees bring the idol of their deity into a beautifully decorated palanquin, which are between the respective temples in this historic city amid the sound of trumpets and drums from the respective temples laid in the Kullu Valley. Here, the assembled deities participate in the Dussehra procession under the leadership of Lord Raghunath’s chariot on the first and last day of the festival.
Talking to the media, the governor said that while people from all over the world celebrate Dussehra in different ways in Himachal Pradesh, devotees draw the chariot of Lord Raghunath, protecting traditions and strengthened cultural values.
“This festival is not only a celebration, but also a symbol of faith, unity and conservation of our rich cultural heritage,” he said.
Governor Shukla said, “The difference between Himachal and abroad gene-X is that in Himachal, General-X draws the chariot of Raghunath-G, leading to our culture forward. They are connected to traditions and work as the patron of heritage,” Governor Shukla said.
He prayed to all the gods for blessings to make Himachal a drug -free state and urged the society to come forward collectively to eliminate this danger.
He said, “Dev Bhoomi Himachal has no place for drugs. Together we should create a healthy and safe environment for future generations,” he insisted.
Referring to the recent natural disasters, the Governor said that the state has suffered significant loss this year, but the courage and determination of the people helped restore normal lives.
He appealed to the citizens that construction activities should not be done close to rivers and streams and actively contributed to environmental protection.
Later, the governor inaugurated exhibitions laid down by government departments, boards, corporations and non-governmental organizations.
He visited the stalls and appreciated the demonstrations, while highlighting that Himachal is famous for its ancient beauty and requires collective responsibility to preserve the surrounding clean and natural resources.
“Allow this festival to strengthen our bond of unity, bring prosperity in our kingdom and inspire us to work towards a bright and more peaceful future,” said the Governor.
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VG/Dan