Located a short distance from the tourist town of Manali, Haripur will celebrate its traditional Dussehra from October 21 to 25. The festival is distinguished by its evening and night-long cultural programmes and the participation of local deities and communities from neighbouring panchayats.

Nakul Khullar, hotelier and recipient of the Award of Excellence, who will attend the celebrations as chief guest, said he considered the invitation an honour.

“It is an honour to be present as the chief guest at Haripur Dussehra. The festival provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the old traditions and cultural heritage of the Kullu Valley, which continue to be preserved by local communities,” Khullar said.

The festivities will begin on October 21 with a Rath Yatra scheduled for 3–4 pm. The palanquin of Thakur Madhorai, associated locally with Lord Krishna, and the Rath of Mata Neelasuri will feature in the procession across the Haripur mela ground. Residents of four to five neighbouring panchayats are expected to participate.

The five-day programme will include traditional Swang performances, folk dances, including Chandravali, plays and performances by local singers and folk artists. The cultural events continue late into the night, with programmes on some days extending until 1–2 am.

Gram Panchayat Pradhan Amar Singh Thakur said the festival could attract more tourists this year, particularly those interested in exploring the traditional culture of the Kullu Valley.

“Haripur Dussehra gives visitors an opportunity to witness our local traditions, folk artists and cultural performances over five days. We want tourists to discover this part of the Valley’s heritage and understand the customs that local communities have preserved for generations,” Thakur said.

Lanka Dahan will be performed at Haripur on the concluding day of the local festival. After the ritual, representatives from the participating panchayats travel to Dhalpur ground to attend the Lanka Dahan ceremony associated with Kullu Dussehra, which concludes the seven-day festival there.

The connection with the wider Kullu Dussehra celebrations is another distinctive feature of Haripur’s festivities. While the local event centres on its own deity traditions and cultural performances, participation in the Dhalpur ceremony links the surrounding communities with the Valley’s larger religious observance.

The festival is jointly organised by the Thakur Madhurai Committee and the Gram Panchayat. The organisers have invited residents and tourists to visit Haripur during the five-day celebrations.

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