1976 Kullu Dussehra was a Divine Miracle

1976 Kullu Dussehra was a Divine Miracle

A. K. Mohapatra

Dussehra Festival of Kullu is well known both in India and abroad. Lord Raghunath is the presiding deity of Kullu. And this festival is held in his honour when the village deities from the entire Kullu district assemble to pay their homage to him. These deities, more than three hundred in number, are brought by their respective villagers to Kullu in mirthful processions during Dussehra. Lord Raghunath comes to the Dussehra ground in a chariot to his camp temple where he is worshipped for seven days.

I was Deputy Commissioner, Kullu from 1975 to 1977 and keen to ensure that the 1976 Dussehra was a greater success. As Dussehra was to start on November 1 I started writing letters to nationally famous dance troupes all over India and other state governments in right earnest in July’ 1976. I also requested the then USSR embassy through the state government to sponsor the participation of one of their world famous ballet groups.

We didn’t receive any response from anywhere till the end of September 1976. In October first week, we were informed that the then PM Prime Minister Indira Gandi would visit Kullu and also Lahaul & Spiti districts on October 30 and 31. Now the entire attention of the state government and the district administration was concentrated on arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit. Dussehra preparations were banished from our mind. Suddenly on October 29 we were informed that PM’s programme had been cancelled. We were all disappointed because even the popular excitement that was aroused for PM’s visit would no longer be there to condone a dim Dussehra.

On October 30, I thought quietly in my mind that the Dussechra festival was of Lord Raghunath. So I quietly prayed “Oh Lord, please take care of your festival the way you like”. While going through the daily mail, I suddenly discovered a telegram confirming the participation of the world famous repertory company of Habib Tanvir, then MP and a leading theatre specialist. They were already on their way to Kullu. Then something happened I couldn’t believe.

Telegrams started raining torrentially for conveying confirmation of almost all the troupes I had invited there months ago. I became mad with joy to see this divine miracle. Then at about 8.30 p.m., I got a call from the then USSR embassy to confirm that one of their famous ballet companies consisting of sixty to seventy members would participate in the festival and also assured that USSR would regularly participate in Kullu Dussehra every year.

I quietly bowed down to Lord Raghunath to thank him for showing us the grandeur of his omnipotent grace. Another unprecedented thing happened that year. We could not accommodate so many troupes in seven day. So we decided to extend the festival for nine days. 1976 Dussehra was a divine miracle when heaven and earth met. I cannot forget that evening when God transformed my gloom into celestial splendor.