Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, 20 October. In most of India that means towering effigies of Ravana going up in flames at sunset. But in five places the festival is something bigger — a royal procession, a week-long gathering of village gods, a month-long play, or a temple town at the centre of the whole story. Here is what happens where, and how to plan for each.
One date to note before you book: not every Dussehra happens on 20 October. Mysuru's grand procession is on 21 October, and Kullu's festival only begins on 21 October, running to the 27th.
1. Ayodhya — where the story is set
Since the Ram Mandir opened, Ayodhya has become the natural place to be for anything connected to Lord Rama. Through Navratri the town stages Ramlila, the ghats along the Saryu fill with lamps every evening, and on Dussehra the celebrations centre on the temple and the riverfront.
- Ram Mandir darshan runs in two sessions, roughly morning and late afternoon, with extended hours during big festivals. Check the temple trust's official site or helpline for the day's timings before you travel.
- Leave phones, bags and leather items in the lockers outside — security is strict and queues move faster if you carry nothing.
- Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan and the Saryu aarti fill the rest of a day nicely.
- Getting there: Ayodhya Dham railway station, the new airport, or a three-hour drive from Lucknow.
- Coming back in November? Deepotsav, when lakhs of diyas are lit along the Saryu, falls on 6–7 November 2026, just before Diwali. It is the single most crowded night of the Ayodhya year, and worth booking now if you want it.
See our Ayodhya Ram Mandir darshan trip, which is planned around the temple timings, or pair it with our Mathura & Vrindavan darshan.
2. Mysuru Dasara — the royal one
Karnataka's state festival runs from 11 to 21 October 2026, and it is unlike anything else in the country. The Mysore Palace is lit with thousands of bulbs every evening through the ten days, there are concerts in the palace grounds, a flower show, a food fair and wrestling bouts.
The finale is Jamboo Savari on Wednesday, 21 October — the procession where the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried through the city in a golden howdah on a decorated elephant, followed by a torchlight parade in the evening at Bannimantap.
- Seats for the procession and torchlight parade are sold through the official Dasara website, including a premium gold card. Public enclosures along the five-kilometre route are free.
- Book a hotel weeks ahead — Mysuru sells out, and many visitors end up staying in Bengaluru and driving down.
- Climb Chamundi Hill early in the morning, before the crowds and the heat.
3. Kullu Dussehra — a week of gods in the hills
Himachal's Kullu valley begins its Dussehra on the day the rest of India finishes. Kullu Dussehra 2026 runs from 21 to 27 October, on the Dhalpur maidan.
There is no burning of Ravana here. Instead, village deities from across the valley are carried down in palanquins — more than two hundred of them — to pay their respects to Lord Raghunath. There is a week of processions, Nati dancing, a huge fair and craft stalls, and on the last day the ceremonial fire by the Beas.
- Where to stay: Kullu town fills completely; Manali or Naggar, both within an hour, make a comfortable base.
- October weather is crisp and clear, perfect for combining the festival with Manali, Kasol or Tirthan. Our Kullu Dussehra festival trip is built around these exact dates, and the Kullu, Manali & Manikaran tour works either side of the fair.
- Book road transport early — this is peak week on the Chandigarh–Manali highway.
4. Delhi — Ramlila and the biggest effigies
Delhi's Ramlila season runs through Navratri, with performances every evening at the Ramlila Maidan, the Red Fort grounds and dozens of neighbourhood stages. On Dussehra evening the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna — some of them over 30 metres tall — are burned in front of enormous crowds.
- Reach by 4 PM for a decent spot; the burning happens around sunset.
- Use the metro. Roads around the grounds close and parking is impossible.
- Keep children close, and agree a meeting point in case phones stop working in the crush.
- The old-city Ramlilas near Red Fort are the most atmospheric; the ticketed ones at Ramlila Maidan are the most comfortable.
🎒 Planning this trip?
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Darshan Mathura & Vrindavan Darshan Kullu Dussehra Festival Trip All Uttar Pradesh trips →5. Varanasi — the month-long Ramlila
Across the river at Ramnagar, Varanasi stages a Ramlila that runs for a full month, performed outdoors in different parts of the town, with the audience walking from scene to scene by lamplight. It is old, slow and utterly unlike a stage show — a UNESCO-recognised tradition. Combine it with the Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh and a sunrise boat ride.
Other Dussehras worth knowing
- Bastar Dussehra, Chhattisgarh — a tribal festival that runs for around seventy-five days and has nothing to do with Ravana; it honours the local goddess Danteshwari.
- Kota and Jaipur, Rajasthan — big fairs alongside the effigy burning.
- Kolkata — the same day is Bijoya Dashami, with sindoor khela and immersion processions. See our Durga Puja guide.
Practical planning
| Place | Dates in 2026 | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|
| Ayodhya | Navratri 11–19 Oct, Dussehra 20 Oct | Stay and train — and again for Deepotsav on 6–7 Nov |
| Mysuru Dasara | 11–21 Oct, procession 21 Oct | Hotel weeks ahead; procession seats online |
| Kullu Dussehra | 21–27 Oct | Stay in Manali or Naggar; road transport early |
| Delhi Ramlila | Nightly 11–19 Oct, effigies 20 Oct | Nothing to book — just go early by metro |
| Varanasi Ramnagar | Through October | Stay near the ghats |
Dussehra is the rare festival where the same day looks completely different depending on where you stand — a burning effigy in Delhi, a golden elephant in Mysuru, two hundred village gods in Kullu.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dussehra in 2026?
Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, right after the nine nights of Navratri.
When is the Mysuru Dasara procession?
The Jamboo Savari is on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, the day after Dussehra. The festival itself runs from 11 October.
What are the Kullu Dussehra 2026 dates?
21 to 27 October 2026 at Dhalpur maidan in Kullu — it starts when the rest of the country has finished.
Is Ayodhya very crowded at Dussehra?
Busy, but manageable. The truly heavy days are Ram Navami in spring and Deepotsav on 6–7 November 2026.
Where can I see the biggest Ravana effigies?
Delhi — the grounds near Red Fort and Ramlila Maidan have the tallest ones. Reach by late afternoon and travel by metro.
Plan your Dussehra trip with Yatraved
We can build an Ayodhya darshan around the temple timings, time a Himachal week with the Kullu fair, or add Varanasi to a Uttar Pradesh trip. See our Uttar Pradesh trips, Himachal packages or tell us your dates.
