Kullu Dussehra: DSCS president seeks advance honorarium for traditional bands

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Dev Sanskriti body seeks advance payment for bajantaris, action against alleged fake kardars

Kullu, September 29

Dev Sanskriti Charitable Sanstha (DSCS) president Om Prakash Sharma demanded that the honorarium for traditional bands known as ‘bajantaris’ accompanying deities during the International Dussehra Festival be paid in advance, and sought action against 136 people he alleged were serving as fake kardars.

Addressing a press conference at Atal Sadan in Dhalpur, Sharma said bajantaris served deities for seven days during the festival, and many were financially weak. He opposed a proposal attributed to the Kardar Association seeking to stop advance payment of the honorarium.

Sharma said the Dussehra Festival Committee had earlier decided to pay Rs 23,000 each to bajantaris in advance. He claimed the Kardar Association later proposed that the amount should not be paid beforehand.

He also questioned the status of the association’s executive body, claiming its term had ended in 2024. He said kardars could present their views before the administration individually.

Sharma further demanded an inquiry into 136 alleged fake kardars. He claimed revenue records did not establish their status as kardars and alleged that lakhs of rupees were being paid to them annually as festival honorarium.

Raising the issue of deity land, Sharma said the matter was pending before the High Court. He alleged that some kardars had sold deity land and said he would raise the matter before the court, along with a demand for legal action against those found responsible.

Sharma also criticised Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur over his alleged change in position on the Dussehra Festival after coming to power. He said Thakur had earlier described the festival as a social event and sought accountability for its expenditure.

He also sought transparency in the accounting of offerings received at Raghunath Temple and alleged political interference in matters related to deity traditions. Sharma said such interference should not be tolerated.