TNR News Network
KULLU: Amid the divine splendour of the week-long Kullu Dussehra Festival, an unusual tradition unfolds annually. A local deity, Devta Ajay Pal, makes a symbolic visit to the Kullu police station every year. This annual moment, steeped in folklore and faith, continues to leave devotees and onlookers both mystified and moved.
Unlike any other ritual during the “Dev Mahakumbh” of Kullu Dussehra, where hundreds of deities from across the valley descend to participate in the celebrations, only Ajay Pal’s chariot takes a distinct turn — towards the police station.
Legend born from loyalty and miracles
The origin of this unique practice lies in a decades-old local incident involving Khampu, a devoted follower (known as devalu) of Devta Ajay Pal. As narrated by the deity’s priest, Nup Ram, Khampu once stood as a guarantor for a man accused in a case. When the accused failed to appear before the police, Khampu was held responsible and arrested.
However, something remarkable happened on the way to the police station. As the story goes, the handcuffs placed on Khampu mysteriously broke — twice. Police officers escorting him claimed they saw a figure walking behind Khampu, though Khampu himself saw no one. It was believed that the invisible presence was none other than Devta Ajay Pal himself, walking silently to protect his devotee.
Stunned by the unexplained breaking of both handcuffs and the divine aura sensed around Khampu, the police took it as a miraculous sign and released him. Coincidentally, the very man Khampu had bailed out appeared soon after and the case was resolved.
Now a ritual rooted in faith and memory
Since that day, it is believed that Devta Ajay Pal visits the Kullu police station once every year during Dussehra — not out of obligation, but as a mark of that miraculous moment and his unwavering bond with his devotee. Each time his chariot arrives in Kullu for the festival, it is customary for it to pause briefly within the police station premises, before moving on.
This year, as always, Devta Ajay Pal’s procession gently turned toward the police station, where priests and locals observed a few moments of solemnity and rest, reliving the tale passed down through generations.
Blend of tradition, devotion, supernatural
In a land where myths walk alongside mortals, such traditions are more than stories. They are living reminders of faith and divine protection. While Dussehra in Kullu doesn’t see the burning of Ravana’s effigy like elsewhere in India, it holds countless customs that are deeply rooted in local belief systems.
The visit of Devta Ajay Pal to a police station, once born out of a moment of crisis, now serves as a bridge between the spiritual and the institutional, a peaceful intersection where faith meets law and miracles are honoured in memory and ritual.
