Shimla, Oct 27 Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced a five per cent increase in the honorarium paid to the deities and a 10 per cent increase for Bajantris. Presiding over the closing ceremony of the International Kullu Dussehra 2026, he also announced an honorarium of Rs 1,100 for each deity’s chief Gur.
As per Himachal Pradesh’s cultural traditions, the Gur is the official human oracle or spokesperson for a local deity. During festivals, like the International Kullu Dussehra, each deity’s chief Gur communes with the gods and conveys their wishes to the people. Kullu Dusshera is a week-long international festival that begins when Dusshera ends elsewhere, as 250 to 300 regional village deities (devtas) gather at Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu to pay homage to the principal deity, Lord Raghunath.
Bajantri is a traditional term used for musicians and folk instrument players associated with weddings, temple rituals, and festive processions.
The chief minister announced Rs 5 crore for connecting the Left Bank area of Kullu district. He announced an additional Rs 5 crore to construct the Manikaran Road, Rs 22 crore to build a sewerage system in Bhuntar, and the opening of an electricity sub-division in Bhuntar.
He announced an honorarium of Rs 35,000 for each participating Mahila Mandal (women’s group) at the Dussehra festival. He also approved Rs 1 crore for constructing a science block at Bajoura School.
The chief minister said the state government would strengthen Kullu District Hospital to ensure better healthcare services for the district’s people. He assured that the hospital would appoint specialist doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. He said the hospital would be equipped with world-class medical technology and that the state government would provide sufficient funds.
He said the current government was committed to strengthening the rural economy. As part of these efforts, the government would soon increase the minimum support price for ginger to Rs 40 per kilogram to improve rural residents’ incomes.
The chief minister said Himachal was the land of deities and that Kullu Dussehra was now being organised on an international level. The government would continue working to make the festival better every year. He said the state government’s commitment to administrative reforms, under the slogan of ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’, was also reflected in the organisation of Kullu Dussehra.
Recalling the 2023 disaster, the chief minister said Kullu district had suffered the worst damage. He praised the people of Kullu for organising community kitchens at various places and said people from across India and abroad would always remember their spirit of service.
Sukhu said the BJP was spreading misleading information about Himachal Pradesh’s economy, while the state government was working to make the state self-reliant. He said the government was taking steps to strengthen the rural economy and would soon implement several schemes. He said all sections of society needed to support and cooperate to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant.
The chief minister also flagged off the Kullu Carnival, which saw the participation of more than 600 women and artists. In the cultural programme, Bhutti Vivraj Cultural Group won first prize, Sutradhar Kala Sangam secured second, and Yuva Kala Manch won third.
Sukhu paid obeisance at Raghunath Temple and prayed for the happiness, prosperity and peace of the people of Himachal Pradesh. He said Kullu Dussehra is not merely a festival but a living symbol of the state’s rich ‘Dev Sanskriti’ and centuries-old heritage.
(PTI News)
