Himachal Pradesh : International Kullu Dussehra Festival from Oct 3

Ashwin Shukla Paksha Ashtami, Kaliyug Varsh 5116

A fine example of the administration’s initiative n the right earnest to curb the malpractices that have taken roots in Hindu festivals ! An example to learn from, for Hindus all over. – Editor

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) : The week-long international Dussehra festival will be held with traditional gaiety and fervour from October 3 to 9.

Presiding over the meeting of Kullu Dussehra Committee, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh stressed on the need to main the dignity of deities at all cost.

“Those carrying the idols of deities on roads for seeking money from the passerby should be brought to book and action should be initiated against them for unnecessarily defaming the culture and also the ‘Devtas’ by playing with the faith of the people,” he said.

Singh said, earlier, local deities were carried on head or in traditional palanquins by ‘Kardars’ amidst beating of drums by musicians (Bajantris) with their traditional instruments, “but it was sad to see few people in group of two or three sitting on the roadside and in public places, thereby defaming the name of deities and by asking money.

“This is not our tradition and such practise which makes fun of our ‘Dev Sanskriti’ and lowers the dignity of deities needed to be curbed,” he said, adding that immediate steps should be taken to stop it.

The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to promote rural games during the festival and said they should be named as ‘Grameen Khel’ and made competitive so that rural games in the state may get the required fillip.

“Rural games as Kabaddi, Volleyball would be promoted without disturbing the green carpet of the ground and separate grounds would be made behind ‘Dev Sadan’ in Kullu for organising the volleyball games in which teams from outside the state were also likely to participate,” he said.

Singh said that the government was considering issuing fire arms licenses to the chowkidars or the caretaker of the temples on demand.

He also said a revolving fund would be formed only for those temples which were vested under the Government or were under the occupancy tenants (Mujaras).

“Adequate funding would be done for upkeep of such temples and sufficient financial assistance provided to them, even if the fixed limit increases beyond a certain point, the government would make sure that adequate assistance was given to these temples.

“I don’t want old temples to be closed or there was no one to even light incense sticks or lamp in front of the idols of our Gods,” he asserted.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Kullu, Rakesh Kanwar apprised the Chief Minister of the events being held during Dussehra festivity and the arrangements made for the same.

He said the district administration has planned to organise folk dance competition consisting of more than 5,000 women in their traditional attire which was likely to be included in Limca Book of records.

Kanwar said two tents each had been provided to Kardars who come along with the deities in Kullu Dusshera, and adequate arrangements had been made for maintaining cleanliness. The committee would provide bus facilities to the people after the cultural nights.

Source : Indian Express