India, Oct. 22 -- While Dussehra celebrations conclude on Vijayadashami in much of India, a hill town in Himachal Pradesh follows a different tradition. Here, the festival begins on the very day it marks the end of celebrations elsewhere. The centuries-old custom has its roots in the region's royal history and distinctive religious practices.

The tradition is linked to Raja Jagat Singh, who ruled Kullu in the 17th century. According to the Ministry of Tourism's Utsav portal, the king installed an idol of Lord Raghunath, a form of Lord Rama, brought from Ayodhya at the palace temple in Kullu.

Lord Raghunath subsequently became the principal deity of the valley, and the festival developed around his worship. Unlike in many parts of India,...