Dussehra (Vijayadashami) Description
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana, as told in the Hindu epic Ramayana, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. In 2026, it falls on approximately October 20th (provisional date — the tenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashvina). It is a gazetted holiday across most of India and marks the end of the nine-night Navratri festival. The most famous celebrations take place in North India, where towering effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna, and son Meghnad are constructed weeks in advance and set ablaze in the evening at large public grounds, accompanied by fireworks and dramatic reenactments. Delhi's Ramlila Maidan and the grounds across the Yamuna host some of the largest effigy burnings, drawing tens of thousands. In Mysore (Karnataka), the Mysore Palace is illuminated with thousands of lights in a spectacular display and a grand procession (Mysore Dasara) with decorated elephants. In West Bengal and eastern states, the day marks the culmination of Durga Puja — elaborate idols of Goddess Durga are immersed in rivers and water bodies (Visarjan). Government offices, banks, schools, and most businesses close. Inter-city travel is extremely busy, and trains and flights are typically booked weeks in advance.
