Where the Beas valley echoes with devotional chants and hundreds of deity palanquins converge in a spectacle unlike anywhere else in India, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, extended warm wishes for the International Kullu Dussehra to residents of the state and to the pilgrims and tourists arriving for the festival.

In his post, CM Sukhu wrote: 'अंतरराष्ट्रीय कुल्लू दशहरा की समस्त प्रदेशवासियों एवं पधारने वाले श्रद्धालुओं एवं पर्यटकों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ।' — 'Heartfelt greetings to all residents of the state and to the devotees and tourists visiting for the International Kullu Dussehra.' He offered his reverence at the feet of Lord Shri Raghunath Ji and expressed the hope that the deity's blessings remain with everyone always.

The festival that keeps a living tradition alive

The International Kullu Dussehra is not simply a ten-day calendar event — it is a living archive of the Kullu valley's folk identity. Celebrated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, the festival draws hundreds of local deities, carried in ornate palanquins by their respective village communities, to pay homage to Lord Raghunath Ji, the presiding deity of the Kullu kingdom. The tradition stretches back centuries and was institutionalised as a state-level celebration over decades of active promotion by the Himachal government.

CM Sukhu's message captured this continuity precisely: he described the festival as an 'anupam utsav' — 'incomparable celebration' — of divine faith and rich folk culture, one that has preserved the region's glorious traditions 'peedhi-dar-peedhi', generation after generation. It is a sentiment that resonates far beyond ritual: the festival anchors community identity in an era of rapid cultural change.

Kullu Dussehra's place on India's cultural map

Kullu Dussehra begins where most of India's Dussehra celebrations end — on Vijayadashami, the tenth day of Navratri — and continues for seven days thereafter, making it structurally unique among the country's major festivals. Its recognition as an international festival reflects decades of effort to draw global attention to Himachal Pradesh's folk heritage, positioning the valley as a cultural destination alongside its more familiar identity as a mountain-tourism hub.

State leaders have consistently used such occasions to reaffirm Himachal's commitment to preserving its traditions, and CM Sukhu's greeting continues that pattern — a public acknowledgement that culture and tourism are inseparable pillars of the state's identity.

As the Kullu valley fills with the sound of drums and the colours of deity processions this week, the Chief Minister's message sets a tone of reverence, continuity, and welcome — a reminder that some celebrations are not just observed, they are carried forward.