24^th September 2019

Topic:- Culture

News: -A first: 2,000 ‘bajantris’ to play Devdhun on Kullu Dussehra.

Context:-It will be a celebration of sorts, when around 2,000 bajantris will congregate at the Dhalpur ground to play ‘Devdhun’ during the Kullu Dussehra festival, which will begin on October 8.

Purpose:-

• To conserve and promote this culture in Kullu district, Devdhun will be played by bajantris.

What is Devdhuns?

• Devdhun is the sound that resonates after playing different instruments when deities move out of their temples to join local festivals.

More information:-

• Each deity has its own instrument, which is played by bajantris during religious festivals. Kullu Dussehra is known as the festival of deities, where over 200 devtas congregate every year at Dhalpur ground to join the week-long celebration. These deities are accompanied by their kardars and bajantris, who stay with the deity in temporary camps at Dhalpur ground.

Important fact:-

• On October 26, 2015, Kullu nati was registered in the Guinness World Records, when 9,892 dancers, mostly women, participated in it.

(Source:-The Tribune)