Dussehra 2026: Date, Meaning and How India Celebrates, From Ramlila and Ravan Dahan to Mysuru's Jamboo Savari
Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday, October 20 in most calendars, and October 21 in Bengal and Mysuru. A guide to the festival's meaning and its many regional forms.
After nine nights of Navratri comes Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, the "victorious tenth". It is one of India's most widely celebrated festivals, and also one of its most varied. The same day can mean Ram's victory over Ravan, Durga's victory over Mahishasura, a royal procession of elephants or a week-long gathering of village gods in the Himalayas.
Quick answer
- Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in most Indian calendars.
- Bengal and Mysuru: Wednesday, October 21. Bengal's Bijoya Dashami and Mysuru's Jamboo Savari procession fall on this day.
- Main rituals: Ravan Dahan (burning of Ravan effigies), Shami puja, worship of tools and weapons (Ayudha Puja), and immersion of Durga idols.
- Diwali follows about three weeks later, on Sunday, November 8.
Why are there two dates?
Hindu festivals follow the tithi (lunar day), not the calendar date. Vijayadashami is observed on the Dashami (tenth day) of the bright half of Ashwin. In 2026, Dashami begins on the afternoon of October 20 and ends on the afternoon of October 21.
Many North Indian panchangs fix Dussehra by whether Dashami is present in the afternoon, which gives October 20. Calendars that follow the tithi at sunrise, including Bengal's, mark October 21. Both are correct within their own traditions, so check your local panchang or temple.
What Dussehra celebrates
- Ram's victory over Ravan. In North and Central India, Dussehra marks the day Ram defeated Ravan in Lanka, as told in the Ramayana. It is celebrated as the victory of good over evil.
- Durga's victory over Mahishasura. In Bengal and the East, the day ends Durga Puja, when the goddess is believed to return to her husband Shiva's home. Idols are immersed in rivers and ponds.
- A day for new beginnings. Many families consider Vijayadashami lucky for starting new ventures, buying vehicles or beginning learning. In South India, children are introduced to letters in a ceremony called Vidyarambham.
How India celebrates
Ramlila and Ravan Dahan (North India). For days before Dussehra, communities stage Ramlila, dramatic retellings of the Ramayana. On the evening of Dussehra, huge effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad are set on fire, often with fireworks. Delhi's Ramlila Maidan and Varanasi's centuries-old Ramnagar Ramlila are among the best known. UNESCO recognised the Ramlila tradition as intangible cultural heritage in 2008.
Mysuru Dasara (Karnataka). Karnataka's state festival runs from October 11 to 21. According to Karnataka Tourism, it was first celebrated by the Vijayanagara kings and revived by Raja Wadiyar I in 1610. The Mysore Palace is lit with about 97,000 bulbs every evening. On Mahanavami, October 20, the palace performs Ayudha Puja, and on Vijayadashami, October 21, the Jamboo Savari sets off: decorated elephants carry the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari in a 750-kg golden howdah along a route of about 4.8 km from the palace to Bannimantap, followed by a torchlight parade in the evening.
Kullu Dussehra (Himachal Pradesh). In Kullu, the celebration begins on Vijayadashami, when the rest of India's ends. Hundreds of village deities are carried to Dhalpur Maidan to join Lord Raghunath in a grand rath yatra, and the festival runs for about a week, ending with Lanka Dahan on the banks of the Beas. Reports suggest it will run from about October 21 to 27 this year; check the district administration's final schedule before travelling.
Bastar Dussehra (Chhattisgarh). One of the world's longest festivals, Bastar's Dussehra lasts about 75 days and is devoted to the local goddess Danteshwari, not to Ram, with tribal rituals and a giant wooden chariot.
Bengal: Bijoya Dashami. On October 21, married women play Sindoor Khela, smearing vermilion on the goddess and each other, before the idols are taken for immersion. Families visit elders and share sweets.
Maharashtra and Gujarat. People exchange apta or shami leaves as "gold", a symbol of prosperity, and Gujarat's Navratri garba ends with Dussehra celebrations.
South India: Ayudha Puja and Golu. Tools, vehicles, books and instruments are cleaned and worshipped on Navami, and the Golu doll displays of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are packed away after Vijayadashami.
Celebrate safely and responsibly
- Keep a safe distance at Ravan Dahan grounds, and watch children around fireworks.
- Choose eco-friendly idols made of clay and natural colours, and use artificial ponds for immersion where your city provides them.
- Plan travel early if you are visiting Mysuru, Kullu or Kolkata; hotels and trains fill up quickly.
- Air quality: in Delhi and North India, pollution often rises after Dussehra. Read our explainer on GRAP, Delhi's pollution action plan.
Related reading
Sources
This article draws on the following reporting. Dates are when each source was originally published.
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