SHIMLA: In a significant verdict upholding regional religious tradition, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled that personal or newly carved out deities cannot claim an inherent right to formal invitations and VIP facilities at the world-renowned International Kullu Dussehra festival.
Dismissing a petition filed on behalf of Devta Bansheera Maharaj Sidhwan from Banjar, Justice Sandeep Sharma upheld a January 2025 order of the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, which had declined formal protocol and ground allocations to the deity.
The court noted that the petitioner deity is a "gharelu Devta" (household deity) formed in 1990 after splintering from the original Devta Bansheera, which has been attending the Dussehra festival since 2007.
Crucially, the bench highlighted that the petitioner deity finds no mention in the Wajib-ul-Arz—the historical village administration record maintained during revenue settlements to chronicle local deities and customs.
"Since no documented criteria exist, the Kullu Dussehra Festival Committee has been following tradition as the principal benchmark... Invitations are extended to deities which have been attending for generations and have recorded historical recognition," the bench observed.
The administration cited severe spatial, logistical, and financial constraints in hosting an ever-growing number of new palanquins at the main Dhalpur ground.
Backed by a 2011 resolution passed by the Kullu Jila Devta Kardar Sangh, authorities stated that uninvited and household deities cannot receive committee-funded tents, mats, or Nazrana, though a separate space at Nehru Park remains open for uninvited visits.
Affirming that the prerogative to recommend invitations squarely rests with the traditional Kardar Sangh rather than administrative mandate, the High Court declined to intervene, directing the petitioner to seek alternate legal remedies if advised.
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