Across most of India, Dussehra ends with Ravana’s effigy going up in flames. The crowds go home and the season moves on to Diwali. In Kullu, a town on the Beas river in Himachal Pradesh, that is when the festival begins. Kullu Dussehra traditionally starts on Vijayadashami and runs for seven days at Dhalpur Maidan, the big open ground in the heart of town. This year, Dussehra falls on October 20, but Kullu will begin a day later, on October 21, following the Udaya Tithi tradition. The festival ends on October 27. Governor Kavinder Gupta will open it, and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will attend the final day. There is no Ramlila here and no burning of giant effigies. Kullu Dussehra is a gathering of gods. Each village deity, usually a set of silver and brass faces called mohras fixed on a decorated palanquin, is carried to Dhalpur on the shoulders of villagers, often on foot over several days. Kuikanda Nag, for instance, left Nither in Outer Seraj on October 18 to reach Dhalpur on the 21st. More than 300 deities came last year. The festival cannot start until Hidimba Devi arrives from Manali, and she stays till the end. A few deities, such as Jamlu of Malana, never enter the ground. They camp across the Beas and send their representatives instead. The days in between belong to the mela, with Ferris wheels, food stalls and hundreds of vendors. Evenings bring folk shows and the mass Kullu Nati dance. The festival got international status in 1972, and this year artists from 15 to 20 countries are expected. The sixth day, called Mohalla, sees all the deities assemble before Raghunath. On the seventh, the chariot is pulled to Lanka Bekar, a spot by the Beas towards Bhuntar. Instead of effigies, masks of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad made of clay and cow dung are used, and dry grass and bushes are burnt to mark the burning of Lanka. After that, the gods begin the long walk home. Travel News - Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now. Senior Copy Editor at Times Network, Akanksha Arora covers Lifestyle, Culture and everything that falls under its big umbrella. When not writing, she ... View More