Kullu Dasehra 2026: Raghunath's rath, village deities and a first drone Ramayana
By Ishita SenCulture & Heritage Editor, Peepals Sanskriti
File photo: Gannu03 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
International Kullu Dasehra runs October 21-27, 2026, with Lord Raghunath's rath, village deities, dancers from abroad and Kullu's first drone and laser Ramayana show.
What Happened
The week-long International Kullu Dasehra is under way in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu valley, running from 21 to 27 October 2026 at Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu town. It opened on Wednesday, 21 October, when thousands of devotees pulled the wooden chariot of Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of the festival, and it ends on 27 October. This year's edition has added dance troupes from other countries and, for the first time in Kullu district, a drone and laser show depicting episodes from the Ramayana, staged on alternate evenings at Dhalpur.
Key Facts
- Dates: 21 to 27 October 2026, at Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.
- Opening: on 21 October, devotees pulled the chariot of Lord Raghunath, marking the start of the seven-day celebrations.
- Village deities: hundreds of local deities are brought from temples across the Kullu valley in decorated palanquins to attend the festival; sources give figures from over 200 to more than 300.
- Processions: on 23 October, a procession of Lord Narasimha took place with the palanquins of local deities.
- New this year: a drone and laser show of about 30 minutes depicting episodes from the Ramayana, planned for the second, fourth and sixth days of the festival with around 500 drones, according to pre-festival reports.
- International cultural programmes: dance troupes from several countries are performing at the festival's cultural evenings.
- Ceremonies: pre-festival reports said Governor Kavinder Gupta would inaugurate the festival and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu would preside over the closing ceremony.
Why It Matters
Kullu Dasehra is different from Dussehra as it is celebrated in most of India. Elsewhere, the festival is marked on Vijayadashami itself, often with the burning of Ravan effigies. In Kullu, according to festival tradition, the celebrations begin on Vijayadashami and continue for a week, and they centre on the worship of Lord Raghunath, a form of Lord Ram, whose idol is taken out in a great wooden rath and pulled by devotees to Dhalpur.
The heart of the festival is the gathering of the devtas, the village deities of the valley. Each deity is carried in its own palanquin by villagers to pay respect to Lord Raghunath. For the people of Kullu, this makes the festival as much a community event as a religious one, which is why it is described as a congregation of deities celebrating faith, community and Himalayan heritage.
The new drone and laser show is an attempt to bring the story of the Ramayana to a younger audience using modern technology, while the arrival of foreign dance troupes reflects the state government's effort to present the festival as an international event that draws tourists to Himachal Pradesh. The challenge, which local organisers have to balance each year, is to keep the deity traditions at the centre while the festival grows.
| Kullu Dasehra 2026 | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 to 27 October 2026 |
| Venue | Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu |
| Presiding deity | Lord Raghunath |
| New attraction | Drone and laser Ramayana show |
| Closing ceremony | 27 October |
Impact
Short-term: Kullu town is crowded with devotees and tourists through 27 October, and visitors should expect heavy traffic and busy hotels in the valley. The last days of the festival bring the closing ceremonies and the return of the deities to their villages.
Long-term: The festival's growing international programme can help Himachal Pradesh promote cultural tourism beyond the summer season. How well the traditions of the village deities are protected as the event expands will shape its character in the years ahead.
Who is affected: Devotees and village communities of the Kullu valley who bring their deities; artisans, traders and hotels in Kullu; domestic and foreign tourists; and the state's tourism and culture departments, which organise the event.
Key Takeaway
Kullu Dasehra 2026 pairs its traditional gathering of village deities around Lord Raghunath with new attractions, including the district's first drone and laser Ramayana show.
Questions and Answers
When is Kullu Dasehra 2026?
The International Kullu Dasehra runs from 21 to 27 October 2026 at Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. It began with Lord Raghunath's rath procession on 21 October.
How is Kullu Dasehra different from Dussehra elsewhere in India?
According to festival tradition, Kullu's celebrations begin on Vijayadashami and last a week, centring on the worship of Lord Raghunath and the gathering of hundreds of village deities, rather than a single day of effigy burning.
What is new at Kullu Dasehra this year?
For the first time in Kullu district, a drone and laser show depicts episodes from the Ramayana, and dance troupes from several countries are taking part in the cultural evenings.
Who are the village deities at the festival?
They are the devtas of temples across the Kullu valley, carried by villagers in decorated palanquins to Dhalpur to honour Lord Raghunath during the festival week.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Ishita Sen, Culture & Heritage EditorCovers Culture & Heritage and more for Peepals Sanskriti. All stories by Ishita Sen
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Ishita Sen is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
