At first  2,000 ‘bajantris’ to play Devdhun on Kullu Dasehra :

• Move to promote deity culture during week-long celebrations.
• It will be a celebration of sorts, when around 2,000 bajantris will congregate at the Dhalpur ground to play ‘Devdhun’ during the Kullu Dasehra festival, which will begin on October 8.
• The Kullu district administration is planning to play the ‘Devdhun’ on a mass level to promote deity culture in Kullu district.
• Devdhun is the sound that resonates after playing different instruments when deities move out of their temples to join local festivals.
• Each deity has its own instrument, which is played by bajantris during religious festivals. Kullu Dasehra is known as the festival of deities, where over 200 devtas congregate every year at Dhalpur ground to join the week-long celebration. These deities are accompanied by their kardars and bajantris, who stay with the deity in temporary camps at Dhalpur ground.
• On October 26, 2015, Kullu nati was registered in the Guinness World Records, when 9,892 dancers, mostly women, participated in it. The performance was held during the week-long Desehra festivities in Kullu.
• Deputy Commissioner said that to each kardar of the deity to ensure participation of bajantris along with the instruments during Kullu Dasehra in an organised way.
•  “Deity culture has its own importance in Himachal Pradesh. To conserve and promote this culture in Kullu district, Devdhun will be played by bajantris this year. Around 2,000 bajantris will play the traditional instruments in an organised way at a single place during Kullu Dasehra. It will be a big attraction for common people as well as tourists, who visit here in large numbers to witness the event. A prayer will be held for peace in the world through Devdhun.
• The Kardar Sangh claimed that they will make every possible effort to make the event a success, which will carry forward the legacy of deity culture to our coming generations. A majority of kardars have been informed about the event. They will make the event a grand affair.

About Kullu Dussehra :

Kullu Dussehra is the renowned International Mega Dussehra festival observed in the month of October in Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. Wherein more than 4-5 lac people visits the fair from all across the Globe. It is celebrated in the Dhalpur maidan in the Kullu valley. Dussehra at Kullu commences on the tenth day of the rising moon, i.e. on 'Vijay Dashmi' day itself and continues for seven days. Its history dates back to the 17th century when local King Jagat Singh installed an idol of Raghunath on his throne as a mark of penance. After this, god Raghunath was declared as the ruling deity of the Valley. The State government has accorded the status of International festival to the Kullu Dussehra, which attracts tourists in large numbers.

History :

In the 16th Century, Raja Jagat Singh ruled over the prosperous and beautiful kingdom of Kullu. As the ruler, the Raja came to know of a peasant by the name of Durgadatta who apparently possessed many beautiful pearls. The Raja thought he should have these treasured pearls, even though the only pearls Durgadatta had were pearls of Knowledge. But the Raja in his greed ordered Durgadatta to hand over his pearls or be hanged. Knowing of his inevitable fate at the hands of the king, Durgadatta threw himself on the fire and cursed the king, "Whenever you eat, your rice will appear as worms, and water will appear as blood". Doomed by his fate, the Raja sought solace and searched out advice from a Brahmin. The Holy man told him that in order to eradicate the curse, he must retrieve the deity of Ragunath from Raam's kingdom. Desperate, the king sent a Brahmin to Ayodya. One fine day the Brahmin stole the deity and set out on his journey back to Kullu. The people of Ayodya, finding their beloved Ragunath missing, set out in search of the Kullu Brahmin.

On the banks of the Saryu river, they approached the Brahmin and asked him why he had taken Ragunath ji. The Brahmin recounted the story of the Kullu king. The people of Ayodya attempted to lift Ragunath, but their deity became incredibly heavy when headed back towards Ayodya, and became very light when headed to Kullu. On reaching Kullu Ragunath was installed as the reigning deity of the Kullu kingdom. After installing the deity of Ragunath, Raja Jagat Singh drank the Charan-Amrit of the deity and the curse was lifted. Jagat Singh became Lord Ragunath's regent. This legend is connected with the Dussehra at Kullu. This deity is taken in a Ratha to the Dussehra.