Kullu Dussera deities under ‘house arrest’

KULLU: Two important deities of Himachal Pradesh have been placed under ‘house arrest’ to prevent their followers from participating in the finale of the centuries-old Kullu Dussera festival because every year the two sides clash with each other.

The district administration has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and asked the followers of Shringa Rishi and Balu Nag not to bring the deities for the concluding ceremony of the week-long Dussehra festival Wednesday.

The unique Kullu Dussera festival begins when Dussera festivities end elsewhere. This year, the festival began on Thursday.

The weeklong festival dates back to 1637 when Raja Jagat Singh was the ruler of the valley. He invited all local deities to perform a ritual in Lord Raghunath’s honour.

However, over the years, rivalry among followers of various deities led to violence. “The rivalry between followers of Shringa Rishi and Balu Nag has its roots in a three-decade old dispute,” Prem Sharma, director of Himachal’s department of language, art and culture, said. “The idol of the superior deity is carried on the right side of the chariot of Lord Raghunath in the finale. For decades, Shringa Rishi used to occupy that place.

After 1971, Shringa Rishi boycotted the ceremony for 11 years. During that period, Balu Nag took that spot. Later, both stopped participating. Now when they have started participating after 18 years, tempers rise among followers,” he added.