A week long International Kullu Dussehra concluded at Kullu today with great fanfare and enthusiasm. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh presided over the closing ceremony and was honoured on the occasion by the Chairman of Kullu Dussehra Committee, Ayurveda and co-operative Minister, Karan Singh. The Chief Minister announced increase of five percent Nazrana of the Kardars and announced a sum of Rs. 10,000 to be given to Bajantaris who accompany the local deities participating in the festival. He said that the government would also consider to provide assistance for those coming for Dussehra festival with local deities from far flung areas and going back.Addressing the huge gathering, the Chief Minister said that few people were of the opinion that Kullu Dussehra won't go well due to certain reasons well known to all but the Dussehra was conducted in the very traditional manner as it use to be. He said that circumstances were being made such that the Dussehra festival may not be successful and many conspiracies were made.He said that one should not bring in politics in regional and religious traditions and festivals, adding that no one should believe that he or she was the owner of the temples. The ancient temples were not the individual property of anyone, though one can be the trustee or care taker of such temples.He said that similarly the Raghunath temple at Kullu also can’t be property of an individual. Citing example of Sarahan Bhimakali Mata temple, he said that Bhimakali Temple at Sarahan was also formed as a trust and he was a member of it besides numerous other members and many other temples of the region were also under the Bhimakali trust which were well being funded and looked after.
He said that deputy commissioner Kullu received a letter recently in which the person had claimed himself as the proprietor of the Raghunath temple. This clearly indicates that whom so ever had written such a letter, earlier used to claim himself as Kardar but now the letter has clarified all facts that the one who had written such a letter was claiming himself to be the proprietor. “ No one can be the Proprietor of the Public temples in which people of Kullu valley have unflinching faith, adding that the temples were of the people and will ever so in coming times”, said Sh Virbhadra. He said people or Kardars will come and go but the temples would exist for ever and the government wants that the ancient temples of theState would be preserved and looked after.He said that the government don't won't to become the proprietor of the Raghunath temple but we want that there should be proper upkeep of the temples and the funds so generated by the formation of Trust be used for developing the temples.
The Chief Minister said that the life of people of the State revolves around its local deities and they were part of every household. He said we need to preserve the customs and culture of the State as our identity exists because of our traditions and culture and added that he had seen civilisation crumbling which have not kept their culture alive.The Chief Minister also released the Kullu Dussehra Souvenir on the occasion and distributed laptops to the meritorious students under the ‘Rajeev Gandhi Digital Yojna’ besides other prizes. Health and Revenue Minister, Kaul Singh Thakur, while speaking on the occasion said that the Congress believes in all over and equitable development and also detailed about various schemes and policies of his departments. The Minister said that 1120 Patwaris have been selected for training besides 778 posts of Patwaris were filled earlier.. He said that soon dialysis facility would be available in regional hospital Kullu and the people would not have to go to Mandi or out of district for dialysis.. He said that the opposition should involve itself in healthy criticism and should compare the development done in their and the present congress regime.Earlier, Ayurveda and Co-operative Minister welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister on the occasion and thanked him for dedicating various development projects on his two days visit to Kullu. The Minister said that such festivals should be kept away from local politics and all should unite together to make the festival a success. He said that the opposition should open its eyes to see the overall development and not to criticise just for sake of criticism. He also raised demand for enhancing the honorarium of Kardars.
Earlier, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of Kullu Press Club to cost Rs 25 lakh, inaugurated the additional block of Government Degree college Kullu on which a sum of Rs4.10 crore was incurred. He also honoured the mothers of newly born girl child under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ campaign. General Secretary, HPCC, Sunder Singh Thakur also spoke on the occasion. Health Minister, Kaul Singn Thakur, Ayurveda and Co-operative Minister, Karan Singh, MLA Lahaul and Vice-Chairman National Commission for Schedule Tribe, GoI, Ravi Thakur, Chairman Wool-Federation, Raghuvir Thakur, General Secretary, HPCC, Sunder Singh Thakur Chairman Zila Parishad, Kullu, Harichand Sharma, DCC President, Bhudi Singh Thakur, Chairman APMC, Kullu and Lahaul, Upendrakant Mishr, Chairperson District Mahila Congress, Vidya Negi, BCC President, Kullu, Uttam Chand Sharma, BCC President, Manali, Bhuneshwar Gaud, OSD to Chief Minister, Amit Pal, Deputy Commissioner, Yunus Khan, SP, Padam Chand were also present on the occasion amongst senior officers of the district.