Devotees, Kullu royal family participate in ‘Narsingha Jaleb’procession

October 26, 2012 | National News | Written by

Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Oct.26: Devotees led by the head of the Kullu royal family participated in the annual ‘Narsingha Jaleb’, procession, which forms a part of the Kullu Dussehra festival in Himachal Pradesh.

Dressed in his traditional royal attire, the head of the former royal family was carried in a palanquin along with idols of the deities.

The procession is taken out after Dussehra, which is a week-long festival here.

A sword and shield were also taken along in the procession, symbolically protecting the devotees.

“When the festival of Vijaya Dashmi was not celebrated here, fair used to held. Deities were worshiped (samagam). It is believed that God Narsingh, used a sword for the protection of Raghunathji and this sword and a shield is carried in the procession along with the idol of the deities,” said a member of the royal family, Raja Maheshwar Singh

Idols of deities are carried in the procession so as to ward off the evil so that there is no harm caused to people, Singh added.

Unlike the rest of India, Kullu Dusshera is celebrated without any Ramlila or the burning of the effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnad or brother Kumbhakaran.

The festival, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil, is marked by prayers, procession s and musical programmes based on Ramayana.

The Kullu Dussehra festival ends with the sacrifice of a buffalo, a rooster, a lamb, a fish and a crab. A huge pile of grass is also set on fire symbolizing the burning of Lanka, Ravana’s kingdom. (ANI)