Uncertainty looms over the international Kullu Desehra festival this year due to the outbreak of coronavirus. There are over 4,000 active Covid cases in the state. Of these, around 180 are in Kullu district. The week-long Kullu Dasehra festival is scheduled from October 25, which attracts lakhs of tourists every year. The cases were increasing rapidly, which is a major concern for organisers of the event. Lakhs of domestic and foreign tourists visit the town to enjoy Kullu Dasehra, in which over 200 deities arrive at the historical Dhalpur ground to pay obeisance to Lord Raghunath, the chief deity of Kullu district. Each deity is accompanied by hundreds of devotees, who stay in temporary camps for one week. Preparations are under way for Kullu Dasehra these days. The major attraction of the event is the rath yatra of Lord Raghunath. It will be difficult to maintain social distance, if all deities visit the
Dhalpur ground along with their followers. Every year, the organising committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, sends invitations to deities to join the weeklong Kullu Dasehra. But this year, the invires are not sent. However, Maheshwar Singh, the chharibardar of Lord Raghunath, is confident that Dasehra will be celebrated like every year. It is expected that soon Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will convene a meeting on the issue and take a final decision. 

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 numbersTwo hundred deities come to pay homage to Lord Raghunath. International Folk Dance Festival is held at Kullu.