Vikramaditya Singh, Anurag Sharma seek blessings at Kullu Dussehra

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Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh attended the International Kullu Dussehra festival at the Dhalpur ground on Friday, seeking blessings from Lord Raghunath and other deities before attending the third cultural evening.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Anurag Sharma visited the festival on Saturday morning, offering prayers at Lord Raghunath’s temporary camp and later visiting the temporary camp of Bijli Mahadev.

Singh sought blessings from Lord Raghunath and other deities before attending the third cultural evening at the Kala Kendra, where the Dussehra festival committee honoured him. Cultural troupes from different states performed during the programme. Congress workers welcomed the minister at the circuit house during his visit to Kullu.

The PWD Minister said the annual gathering of deities from across Kullu district gave him an opportunity to seek their blessings. Describing the festival, also known as Dev Mahakumbh, as a showcase of the region’s ancient religious and cultural traditions, he said it allowed visitors from India and abroad to experience local customs and beliefs. He appreciated the efforts of the festival committee and the state government in organising the event.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha MP offered prayers at Lord Raghunath’s temporary camp at the Dhalpur ground and later visited the temporary camp of Bijli Mahadev. He said the festival held a distinctive place among the country’s major religious and cultural events, reflecting Himachal Pradesh’s heritage, social unity and collective faith.

Highlighting the tradition of hundreds of deities arriving at Dhalpur from different parts of the district, Sharma said they were accompanied by their traditional attendants, known as “devalus”, temple functionaries called “kardars” and traditional musical instruments.

He said devotion to Lord Raghunath and the gathering of deities from different regions remained defining features of the festival. The annual celebration also played an important role in preserving cultural heritage, promoting tourism and supporting the local economy, he added.

Notably, the International Kullu Dussehra festival brings together deities and their followers for religious rituals and cultural programmes, reinforcing the district’s distinctive identity and centuries-old traditions.

As part of his official engagements, the PWD Minister is scheduled to meet National Highways Authority of India officials at Patlikuhal on Saturday before returning to Shimla.