Every October, when most of India winds down Navratri, Kullu begins its grandest celebration. The valley, known as the “Valley of Gods,” fills with the sound of drums, chants, and footsteps of thousands of devotees carrying their village deities. For a week, this Himalayan town turns into a living stage of devotion and culture.
In 2025, the International Kullu Dussehra starts on October 2 at Dhalpur Maidan. Over 330 deities will gather, each brought on foot from distant villages, some carried across 100 km. Travelers, bloggers, and pilgrims describe it as an experience that stays with you for life, more than a festival, it feels like walking into a centuries-old tradition still alive today. If you’ve only seen Dussehra as the burning of Ravana, Kullu will change that forever.
Day 2: Deity Camps and Markets
Morning brings the sight of palanquins resting at camps set up across town. Followers stay close to their deities, drumming, chanting, and performing small rituals. Walking through these camps feels like stepping into centuries of living faith.
By afternoon, Dhalpur grounds turn into a fairground. Shops selling woolens, wooden crafts, and silver jewelry open to streams of visitors. Food courts serve siddu, rajma madra, and steaming cups of tea. The evening builds into the first wave of cultural performances at Kala Kendra, where local Nati dancers create a festive rhythm.
- Morning: Camps of deities spread across Kullu town. Devotees carry idols through narrow lanes with drums and trumpets. “I woke up to the sound of nagaras at dawn,” recalled a travel blogger from Pune.
- Afternoon: Visit the bustling handicraft fair at Dhalpur. Woolen shawls, Kullu caps, and wooden crafts dominate stalls.
- Evening: Folk dances at Kala Kendra auditorium, often featuring Nati.
- Tip: Best views of morning processions are from the Sultanpur temple road. Walk early before crowds swell.
Day 3: Dawn Processions and Folk Rhythms
The day begins with processions of deities moving toward the Maidan for ceremonial meetings. Drums, trumpets, and chants fill the streets as groups carry their palanquins shoulder to shoulder. It is devotion in motion, visible from almost every corner of the town.
- Morning: Palanquins line up for ceremonial meetings, or milni, where deities “greet” one another. A Delhi blogger wrote: “At sunrise, watching Hadimba Devi’s arrival was like seeing history walk into town.”
- Afternoon: Sample Himachali dham thali, a platter of rajma, madra, and kadi, served in festival food courts.
- Evening: Stage programs featuring state and national folk artists.
- Optional trip: Short detour to Naggar Castle (24 km) for heritage architecture.
- Tip: Carry small cash for food stalls; digital payments may fail in the crowds.
Day 4: Culture Meets Carnival
Morning hours remain reserved for deity rituals inside camps. Visitors can quietly observe as offerings are made and prayers recited. The atmosphere feels slower, calmer, and deeply personal.
By afternoon, the Maidan changes character. It resembles a carnival, with traders from across India displaying goods, and children rushing toward swings and games. Evenings bring fusion performances, often mixing Himachali Nati with visiting artists.
- Morning: Camps host deity-specific rituals. Observers are welcome but must keep respectful distance.
- Afternoon: Fairgrounds expand into a carnival atmosphere with swings, games, and traders from across India.
- Evening: Fusion performances, local Nati paired with visiting artists. “By night, the whole ground felt like a live museum,” noted a blogger from Dharamshala.
- Optional trip: Bijli Mahadev Temple (27 km) for panoramic valley views.
- Tip: Evening programs are packed. Arrive at Kala Kendra by 6 pm to find seats.
Day 5: Devotion and Music
Day 5 centers on the chariot of Lord Raghunath. Devotees pull the ropes, chanting as the Rath Yatra becomes the focal point of the morning. The act is seen as both service and blessing. Food dominates the afternoon. Trout fish, siddu, and local sweets draw long queues. As night falls, the stage lights up with international performances, giving the festival a mix of local tradition and global flavor.
- Morning: The chariot of Lord Raghunath remains the center of rituals. Devotees pull ropes as chants echo across the Maidan.
- Afternoon: Explore local food stalls, don’t miss siddu (steamed bread stuffed with walnut paste).
- Evening: International troupes often perform on Day 5, bringing a global flavor.
- Optional trip: River rafting on the Beas River, a short ride from town.
- Tip: Stay near Dhalpur Maidan for easy access; traffic jams peak in the evening.
Day 6: Return to the Maidan
On the sixth day, the town sees the return of all deities to Dhalpur Maidan. The sight of hundreds of palanquins swaying in rhythm creates one of the most striking images of the festival. It is a rare moment when the valley’s divine heritage gathers in one place.
Afternoons bring cultural stalls alive with weaving, woodcraft, and local storytelling. By evening, folk theater narrates Himachali legends, keeping the crowd engaged until late.
- Morning: All deities reconvene at Dhalpur. This mass gathering is among the most photographed events.
- Afternoon: Cultural stalls feature live demonstrations of weaving and local craft.
- Evening: Folk theater narrates local legends. “I didn’t understand every word,” shared a traveler from France, “but the emotion was universal.”
- Tip: For photography, stand near the second ground boundary wall to capture panoramic views.
Day 7: Muhalla Procession
Day 7, called Muhalla, is when all deities visit Lord Raghunath’s camp in a grand show of unity. Morning processions move in organized rows, followed by rituals around the main chariot.
Markets buzz at their busiest in the afternoon, with travelers rushing to buy last-minute shawls and herbs. Evening programs stretch into late hours with back-to-back performances, turning the Maidan into a sea of lights and music.
- Morning: The deities visit Lord Raghunath’s camp, reaffirming unity.
- Afternoon: Last chance to shop, shawls, silver jewelry, and herbal products sell out fast.
- Evening: Performances peak. Expect all-night music at the fairgrounds.
- Optional trip: Quick evening stroll along Beas riverbank for quiet contrast.
- Tip: Wear layers; nights in October dip sharply in temperature.
Day 8: Lanka Dahan
The final day begins with processions heading to the Beas riverbank, known as Lanka Beker. Here, the symbolic burning of Lanka is carried out with heaps of dry bushes, marking the end of the festival.
By afternoon, deities start their return journey to villages. The Maidan slowly empties, leaving behind echoes of drums and chants. For visitors, the departure feels like closing a living book of tradition.
- Morning: The final procession begins. Lord Raghunath’s chariot leads deities to the Beas riverbank (Lanka Beker).
- Afternoon: Rituals mark the symbolic burning of Lanka, not with Ravana effigies, but with a heap of twigs and grass.
- Evening: Deities return to their villages. The festive town begins to empty.
- Traveler account: “Watching the palanquins disappear into the hills was bittersweet—it felt like saying goodbye to living gods,” wrote a blogger from Mumbai.
- Tip: Exit town early if driving out, as roads clog once the processions disperse.
Travel Advice for Visitors
- Stay: Book in Naggar, Bhuntar, or Manali instead of Kullu town to avoid congestion.
- Transport: Bhuntar Airport (10 km) is closest. Overnight buses from Delhi and Chandigarh are reliable.
- Do’s & Don’ts:
- Do carry warm clothing for chilly nights.
- Don’t touch palanquins or ropes without permission.
- Do keep cash for shopping and food.
- Don’t block deity routes while taking photos.
- Combine the trip: Explore Kasol, Manikaran Sahib, or Tirthan Valley for nature and culture beyond the festival.
Kullu Dussehra 2025 isn’t just a festival. It’s seven days of faith, color, and culture played out in the Himalayan amphitheater. If you want to see devotion and tradition come alive in their purest form, block your October calendar for Kullu.
