International Dussehra Festival in Kullu 2026 Guide

The International Dussehra Festival in Kullu transforms the Kullu Valley into a spectacular celebration of faith, culture, and community every October. Dussehra in Kullu sharesl conveys the familiar message of good triumphing over evil, but its traditions are strikingly different, with Lord Raghunath at the centre and hundreds of village deities gathering in Kullu for a week-long celebration.

The festival follows Vijay Dashami, unlike most Navratri celebrations in India that conclude with Dussehra. For 2026, Vijay Dashami falls on 20 October, and Kullu's version of Dussehra runs well past that, through 26 October as a provisional window. Deity processions, Himachali folk performances, and the fair at Dhalpur Maidan fill the week.

If you're planningIndia trips around festivals that go beyond the usual Ravana Dahan and Ramlila, this one's worth putting on the list.

The International Dussehra Festival in Kullu unfolds over a full week, and here's what shapes the celebration:

• Worship of Raghunathji: Dussehra in Kullu opens with a special puja to Raghunathji at Sultanpur on the first day of Navratri, setting off a week of spiritual celebrations.
• 200+ Local Deities Procession: Village gods and goddesses arrive dressed in full regalia, carried on palanquins toward the Dhalpur grounds for a week-long gathering.
• Nati dance: Performed by men and women to live folk music, this traditional Himachali dance is exactly what the Dussehra celebration in Kullu famous for.
• International folk performances: Cultural troupes and folk artists from countries outside India perform alongside groups from different Indian states, adding a global dimension to the celebration.
• Authentic local food: The festival brings out delicacies made just for the occasion, both vegetarian and meat dishes worth tasting at least once.
• Festive rituals: Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnath go up in flames as part of the week's symbolic ceremonies.
• Fair stalls: The Dussehra fair in Kullu fills up with handicrafts, art and food, a good stretch for picking up souvenirs worth keeping.

The Kullu Dussehra Festival goes back to the 17th century, when Raja Jagat Singh brought an idol of Lord Raghunath from Ayodhya and installed it at the palace temple in Kullu. Lord Raghunath went on to become the main deity behind Kullu Valley's Dussehra traditions.

Centuries later, the International Kullu Dussehra still keeps Lord Raghunath at its centre, with hundreds of village deities gathering at Dhalpur each year to pay their respects during the week-long celebration.

Note: Kullu does not have a railway station. The nearest railway options include Chandigarh, Kiratpur Sahib, Joginder Nagar and Una, from where you need to continue to Kullu by road.

• Book early: Rooms, flights and buses fill up fast during International Kullu Dussehra, so lock in your travel and stay well ahead of time.
• Stay in Kullu town: If catching the International Dussehra Festival in Kullu is the whole point of your trip, staying in or near Kullu keeps you close to Dhalpur Maidan.
• Build in extra travel time: Processions and crowds bunch up around the main celebration areas, so pad your local travel plans accordingly.
• Pack warm layers: October mornings and evenings get cold here, a jacket or something to layer up in goes a long way.
• Wear comfortable shoes: Since most of the day will be spent on foot near Dhalpur Maidan, pick shoes that can handle hours of standing & walking without trouble.
• Respect local traditions: For locals, Dussehra in Kullu isn't a show, it's a religious observance. Give priority to deity processions and avoid stepping onto ceremonial paths while taking photos.
• Carry cash: Not every vendor, food stall or handicraft seller here takes digital payments.