Five Dussehras, One Victory: Celebrating Vijayadashami in Kullu, Mysuru, Bastar, Kota and Delhi
Every year, as the last evening of Navratri passes, India wakes up to Vijayadashami with a sense of arrival. The nine nights of devotion are done, and the tenth day belongs to victory. This year it falls on 20 October, and the country marks it in a thousand ways: with drums in the mountains, elephants in a palace city, chariots rolling through forest towns and Ramlila lamps glowing in the capital. Here are five places where the festival feels most alive.
Kullu: Where the Valley Gathers Its Gods
In the Himalayan town of Kullu, Dussehra begins as the rest of the country winds down. The festival starts on Vijayadashami and runs for seven days at Dhalpur Maidan. Over 200 village deities arrive on wooden palanquins, with drums echoing by the Beas river. At the heart of it is Lord Raghunath, whose chariot is pulled by devotees through the crowd. Tradition recalls how Raja Jagat Singh brought Raghunath’s idol from Ayodhya, and the festival was declared international in 1972. It feels less like a spectacle and more like a family reunion of the valley’s gods and people.
Mysuru: A Royal Celebration of the Goddess
Mysuru turns the festival into a city-wide celebration of Goddess Chamundeshwari. The 10-day state festival opens on 11 October at Chamundi Hill, and the grand Jumbo Savari on Vijayadashami is scheduled for 21 October. Each evening the palace glows with nearly a lakh bulbs. The procession’s crowning moment is the elephant carrying the 750-kg Golden Howdah with the Goddess’s idol, accompanied by bands, folk troupes and tableaux. Mysuru follows its own calendar for the day, which is why the Savari falls a day after the national Dussehra.
Bastar: A Festival Shaped by Forest and Faith
In Chhattisgarh, Dussehra is a long, devotional journey. Bastar Dussehra is a roughly 75-day festival in Jagdalpur, devoted to Goddess Danteshwari. It began this year on 12 August with the Pat Jatra ritual. Deities are brought from villages across the district, and a great wooden chariot makes its way through the town. Tribal communities have kept the tradition alive for roughly 600 years. It is a living example of how deeply faith and community can be woven together.
Kota: A Fair Under a Festive Sky
Kota’s Dussehra is a celebration of scale. The Dussehra Fair runs from 20 October to 6 November 2026, and its history is traced back to 1723. Families, children and visitors from nearby towns fill the grounds, and the evening reaches its peak with the Ravan Dahan, where effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnad are lit before an excited crowd. To those watching, the flames stand for the triumph of good over evil, and the cheers that follow carry the spirit of the day.
Delhi: Ramlila Nights and a City Together
In the capital, Dussehra is a story told over many evenings. Ramlila performances and Ravan Dahan take place across the city, with Ramlila Maidan among the best-known venues. Neighbourhood committees stage the Ramayana night after night, building towards the finale. Ravan Dahan takes place on the evening of 20 October, after sunset, at times announced by local committees. And because Delhi is home to families from every part of India, you may find a Garba circle and a Durga Puja pandal just a short drive from a Ramlila ground.
One Thread, Many Colours
The stories differ from place to place: Rama’s victory in one, the Goddess’s triumph in another, the gathering of deities in a third. But the feeling is the same everywhere. It is a day to celebrate courage, faith and the hope that light wins in the end.
If You Plan to Visit
Book travel early for Mysuru, Kullu and Kota, which draw large crowds. Check timings with local committees closer to the day, carry water and comfortable footwear, and arrive early for processions and evening events.
A Festival Worth Carrying Home
Whichever Dussehra you see, you will probably remember the same things: a drumbeat, a procession and the sight of families gathered together. It is a festival of many traditions, and each deserves to be celebrated on its own terms.