Dussehra in India: A Festival of Victory and Diverse Traditions

Festival season is going to start in India and country is gearing up for celebrations. Folks are already waiting for Dussehra , Vijayadashmi, Navratras & Diwali. And planning for celebrations have begun. Some of the folks have already planned holidays around these festivals. Some are going to their families for celebration and some wandering souls are planning to go places where these festivals are celebrated in unique ways. Today we are sharing about top 5 places to celebrate Dussera in India.Mysore Dasara – Dussera is pronounced as ‘dasara’ in Mysore, which is 10 days event in the city of Karnataka . Mysore dasara is a royal affair, which celebrates victory of truth over evil. Dasara celebration in the city is concluded with Vijayadashami procession on last day. It is believed that Goddess Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura on Vijayadashami day. In Mysore, Chamundeshari seated in golden howdah of an elephant is progressed for 3 kilometers, which starts from the grounds of palace. Palace is beautifully decorated during these 10 days and city is completely transformed. Lot of tourists plan their visit to Mysore during these 10 days.Kullu Dussehra - Kullu Dussehra is celebrated in the month of October in Himachal Pradesh . Kullu Dussehra festival is celebrated in dhalpur ground of kullu town. This festival begins on Vijay Dashmi day and continues for 7 days after that. This festival is unique where lot of local deities of Himachal come together to celebrate the win of lord rama over devil. Approximately 250 deities come together at Dhalpur on final day including Godess Hadimba . There is huge rath which leads the procession of Lord Raghu Nath Ji. During the festival lot of cultural activities happen in Kullu town.Bastar Dushera -Like Kullu Dussehra, all the deities from the surrounding villages unite at the temple of Danteshwari in Jagdalpur of Bastar. This is one of the main celebrations in Basar district of Chhatisgarh. Dussera at Bastar is little different. It’s not about return of Rama to Ayodhaya. Dusshera in Bastar is devoted entirely to the goddess Danteshwari Devi. The festival involves participation of all the major tribes of Bastar and folks look forward to Dussehra celebrations. The preparations start in advance and whole mood of celebration remains there for a month.Kota Dussehra -Kota is a town in Rajasthan state of India and on Dussehra, a huge mela (fair) takes place for 3 days. On the last day the effigies of the Ravana clan are burnt in the ground. Rajasthani handicrafts, joy rides and the food stalls can be seen all around. Usually lesser number of tourists are seen in fair as compared to other fairs (mela) of Rajasthan state.Madikeri Dasara -Dasara festival is celebrated in the city of Madikeri in the Karnataka state of India. This is considered to be one of the oldest dasara celebration which is happening for hundreds of years in Karnataka. Madikeri Dasara is again 10 day celebration. It's known for 4 Karagas and 10 Mantapas depicting win of gods over devil by killing them. Preparation for Madikeri dasara starts few months before the real celebration. Folks of Kodagu collect money for this celebration and that's a very good example of crowd-funded project at this scale. And don't forget that it's happening for many years now. Each of these 10 Mantapa committees have approximately 100 members. A Mantapa comprises idols of height 8 to 15 feet, which is set up at the front of a lighting board.Can you visualize the scene of these celebrations? If not, then it's a right reason for you to plan a Dussehra trip to any of these places and explore a unique celebration of Dussehra.

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, marks the victory of good over evil and is celebrated on the tenth day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin, right after the nine days of Navratri. The festival signifies the triumph of Lord Rama over Ravana and also the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, depending on regional traditions.

What makes Dussehra truly fascinating is how differently it is celebrated across India, each region adding its own unique flavor to this grand festival.

North India: The Ramlila and Ravana Dahan

In states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, Dussehra is celebrated with the dramatic enactment of the Ramlila—the story of Lord Rama’s life from the Ramayana.

  • Ramlila Performances: These theatrical plays, often spanning several days, depict episodes from the Ramayana, culminating in Rama’s victory over Ravana.

  • Ravana Dahan: Huge effigies of Ravana, along with Meghnath and Kumbhkaran, are burnt on the day of Dussehra, symbolizing the destruction of evil.

  • Major Venues:

    • Ram Lila Maidan in Delhi is one of the grandest stages.

    • Varanasi’s Ramlila of Ramnagar, patronized by the royal family, is one of the oldest and most elaborate, stretching over nearly a month.

Here’s a glimpse of how Delhi gears up for Dussehra with giant Ravana effigies: Dussehra Preparations in Delhi.

West Bengal & Eastern India: Bijoya Dashami

In West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Bihar, Dussehra coincides with the end of Durga Puja. Here, the festival celebrates the triumph of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura.

  • Visarjan (Immersion): On Vijayadashami, idols of Goddess Durga are immersed in rivers and lakes amidst music, dance, and chants of “Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai.”

  • Sindoor Khela: Married women smear each other with red vermillion (sindoor) as a symbol of marital bliss and the goddess’s strength.

  • Bijoya Celebrations: Families exchange sweets and greetings, marking the beginning of new journeys with blessings from the goddess.

Explore more about Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata and beyond in this Travellingcamera story: Durga Puja in India.

India has lot of festivals and fairs around the year. Navratri is one of the popular one because of various aspects associated with it in terms of faith, holidays, music, dance and fancy food. And for last few years we have been thinking of visiting the special state of Gujrat during Navratras to witness it's world famous Garba nights which are listed in various record books & publications. This year we had this sudden plan to visit Gujrat and when we did a little research it turned out that Vadodara is very special place in Gujrat in comparison to various other cities like Ahemdabad. This post will share what's so special of Garba in Gujrat and why Vadodara stands out in all the cities of the state during Navratras, along with some tips to make best of your trip to this part of Gujrat during Navratra week.

Gujarat & Maharashtra: The End of Navratri

In Gujarat and Maharashtra, Dussehra is the conclusion of the nine nights of Garba and Dandiya Raas.

  • Shami Tree Ritual: People worship the Shami tree, believed to be the tree under which the Pandavas hid their weapons during exile.

  • Processions & Aartis: Communities gather for final aartis of Goddess Durga before immersing her idols.

  • In Maharashtra: Families exchange apta leaves (sona), symbolizing prosperity and gold.

You can read more about how Navratri transforms cities like Vadodara and Ahmedabad in this post: Navratri and Garba Nights in India.

While coming back from Kannurto Bengaluru , we planned stop at Mysore Palace. We didn't stop for lunch on the way and thought of taking a break at Mysore and have some light lunch. It's a historical palace in the city of Mysore in Karnataka, southern India. It is the official residence and seat of the Wodeyars — the Maharajas of Mysore, the former royal family of Mysore, who ruled the princely state of Mysore from 1399 to 1950. Asked our taxi driver to drop us at the entry gate of Mysore Palace and park for next 1 hr.There is a dedicated parking area adjoining Mysore Palace campus. There is another huge parking across the road and lot of buses were parked in that parking. Ticket counter was empty, so it hardly took 5 minutes for us to enter into the campus. There was no one at the main entry to check out tickets. Entry ticket for one person costs 40 Rs and there is no ticket for camera. I specifically asked for camera fees and surprised to know that no fees is charged for cameras.After entering into the Mysore Palace campus, we thought of taking a round of this huge compound. The palace houses two durbar halls and incorporates a mesmerizing and gigantic array of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The palace is in the central region of inner Mysore, facing the Chamundi Hills on the other side. There is lot of open space around the main palace. There is a temple around one of the corners of Mysore Palace.The Palace of Mysore is also known as the Amba Vilas Palace. After walking outside the palace, we reached the entry which takes you inside the palace. We needed to take out shoes. As we reached the counter to deposit our shoes, the guy standing there refused to give us a token and assured that we need not to worry :). Anyways, we moved on and stood in the queue.As we reached the security check, we were notified that cameras are not allowed inside and you need to keep it somewhere. Now I got to know that why there was no fees for camera but the person at ticket counter didn't bother to inform us about that. After spending 5 minutes in discussions with security folks, we got to know that a counter is there outside the compound where camera can be deposited. This was again a task of 15 minutes to take shoes back, deposit camera and then come back.Now we decided to directly go back to our cab and continue with our next journey towards Bengaluru. As we headed back to the shoe counter, the man at the counter asked for 'tip' and then gave us our shoes. Isn't it weird?Mysore is also popularly the City of Palaces. There are about 7 palaces inclusive of Mysore Palace. Now we didn't have to explore more in Mysore City. Probably we shall go there again sometime. I have also heard a lot of the Dussehra celebrations in Mysore, so let's see if I plan for it in future.To know more about the history and architecture of Mysore Palace, check out. It seems that Mysore Palace is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in India, after the Taj Mahal, and has more than 3,000,000 visitors annually. But not sure if I should compare it with Taj or not.

Karnataka: Mysore Dasara

The Mysore Dasara is among the most famous Dussehra celebrations in India, with a history dating back over 400 years.

  • Royal Celebrations: The Mysore Palace is illuminated with nearly 100,000 bulbs, creating a mesmerizing sight.

  • Jumbo Savari: A grand procession of caparisoned elephants carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari through the streets of Mysore.

  • Cultural Festivities: Music, dance, wrestling, and traditional arts add to the grandeur.

Catch the details here: Mysore Dasara – Karnataka’s State Festival.


Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: Bommala Koluvu

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, households set up Bommala Koluvu (doll displays), similar to the Golu tradition of Tamil Nadu.

  • Doll Displays: Steps are decorated with dolls depicting gods, goddesses, and mythological stories.

  • Community Gatherings: Families invite relatives, exchange sweets, and conduct prayers.

One of the biggest Garba festivals in Gujarat, the United Way of Baroda attracts over 400,000 people per night, and for all the right reasons. Delectable food, dance competitions, enthusiastic participants and exceptionally well-dressed individuals anywhere you look, this event also has a lot of popular musicians and singers from across India participating in this event. You should keep a tab on the registration and passes for this event a few months in advance, considering the sizeable number of participants that this event sees throughout the nine days. Attending this festival also has a lot of goodwill attached to the event, a fundraiser for United Way, an organization that has been relentlessly working towards the welfare of the community. The proceedings of this event are evenly distributed among 140 organisations. You may want to check out more. Main Markets to explore in Varodara during Navratri Celebrations in Gujrat : 1. Ratri Bazar (Night Market) 2. Khadi Bhandar Center 3. Rooppura Market 4. Mandvi Market 5. Teen Darwaza Bazar 6. Lehripura Mandir Bazar 7. Mangal Bazar 8. Khanderao Market

Tamil Nadu & Kerala: Navratri Golu and Saraswati Puja

In Tamil Nadu, the festival centers around Navratri Golu—a vibrant display of dolls arranged on steps. The last three days are dedicated to worshipping Goddess Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Durga.

  • Ayudha Puja (Tamil Nadu & Kerala): Tools, books, and musical instruments are worshipped.

  • Vijayadashami: An auspicious day to begin learning, especially for children.

Here’s a detailed feature: Navratri Golu in South India.

Himachal Pradesh: Kullu Dussehra

In the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, Kullu Dussehra begins when Dussehra ends elsewhere in India.

  • Unique Start: It starts on Vijayadashami and continues for seven days.

  • Devta Procession: Deities from nearby villages are carried in colorful processions to Kullu, where they assemble around the idol of Lord Raghunath.

  • Community Unity: This gathering of gods and people symbolizes unity and faith.

Read this in detail here: Kullu Dussehra – A Week-long Festival in the Himalayas.


Other Unique Celebrations

  • Punjab: Farmers sow wheat and barley during Navratri and celebrate Dussehra as a harvest festival.

  • Odisha’s Bastar Dussehra (Chhattisgarh border): Lasting for 75 days, this tribal celebration is one of the longest festivals in the world, blending indigenous traditions with goddess worship. Bastar Dussehra.

Dussehra is one of those rare festivals that unites India while also showcasing its diversity. From the effigy burnings in Delhi to the Durga idol immersions in Kolkata, the royal procession in Mysore, and the unique tribal rituals in Bastar, the festival reflects how a single theme—the victory of good over evil—can be expressed in countless ways.

Wherever you experience it, Dussehra is a reminder of resilience, faith, and the eternal triumph of righteousness.

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