India is a diverse land with every festival having a different version at different places, and Dussehra is no exception. Celebrated on the tenth day of the Navratri festival, Dussehra marks the triumph of good over evil, symbolizing Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. But did you know that in some cities of India, this festival is not just a one-day celebration? Instead, it is celebrated for 7 days or even over two months. Well, do not worry! unstumbled is here with a list of cities where you can experience the best of Dussehra in India. Check it out!
Dussehra In India
Mysuru: Dasara
Mysuru Dasara is a 10-day royal festival celebrated in Mysuru, Karnataka, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. It honors Goddess Chamundeshwari, who defeated the demon Mahishasura, giving the city its name. The festival culminates on Vijayadashami with a grand procession called “Jumboo Savari,” featuring the Goddess’s idol on a golden howdah atop a decorated elephant. Mysore Palace is illuminated with nearly 100,000 bulbs during the festival, creating a magical spectacle. The festivities also include cultural programs, dance, music, and a torchlight parade at Bannimantap grounds.
Date: September 22 to October 2, 2025
Kolkata: Vijayadashami
In Kolkata, Vijayadashami marks the conclusion of the 10-day Durga Puja festival with grand celebrations. The day begins with prayers and the ritual of sindoor khela, where married women apply vermilion to the goddess’s idol and each other. A major highlight is the immersion procession (visarjan), where beautifully decorated idols of Goddess Durga are carried to rivers or water bodies amidst rhythmic chants and music. The city echoes with joyous songs, dhunuchi dance (incense dance), and drum beats (dhak). The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the goddess’s return to Mount Kailash.
Date: October 2, 2025
Kota: Dussehra Mela
Kota, Rajasthan, celebrates a grand Dussehra Mela, a cultural extravaganza held annually at Dussehra Maidan. The festival dates back to 1723 AD and lasts about 25 days. It features the burning of over 75-foot-tall effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarana, and Meghnath, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The mela includes vibrant cultural programs like folk music, dance, poetry, bhajan, and kavi sammelans. Thousands of visitors attend the dazzling procession and enjoy food, crafts, and amusement rides. This celebration of Dussehra in India is said to be one of the most colourful and unique ones.
Date: September 22 to October 17, 2025
Chhattisgarh: Bastar Dussehra
Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh is a unique 75-day festival dedicated to Goddess Danteswari, the tribal deity of Bastar. It is one of the longest Dussehra celebrations in the world, rooted deeply in tribal traditions and rituals. The festival features the construction of a grand wooden chariot made from Sal and Tinsa wood for the Rath Yatra procession. It begins with the Pat Jatra ritual, invoking the goddess and worshiping the forest. The Raja of Bastar conducts a formal transfer of power ceremony, with spiritual rituals involving a girl believed to possess divine powers.
Date: September 30 to October 19, 2025
Ayodhya: Dussehra
Dussehra in Ayodhya celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The city, believed to be Rama’s birthplace, holds grand Ram Leela performances that reenact key episodes from the Ramayana. The festivities include rituals like pujas, aartis, and colorful processions. Effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhakarana are burned in a spectacular event accompanied by fireworks and devotional music. Temples and streets are beautifully decorated, and cultural performances like drama, dance, and songs fill the air.
Date: October 2, 2025
Gujarat: Vijayadashami
In Gujarat, Vijayadashami marks the end of the vibrant Navratri festival, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The state is famous for Garba and Dandiya Raas dances, performed in colorful traditional attire around a clay pot with a lamp, symbolizing the divine feminine energy. On Vijayadashami, people perform puja to bless their vehicles, marking the day as auspicious for buying new ones. Traditional foods like fafda and jalebi are widely enjoyed on this day. The celebrations blend devotion, cultural dances, music, and social gatherings, creating a lively and spiritually uplifting atmosphere.
Date: October 2, 2025
Kullu: Dussehra
Kullu Dussehra is a unique week-long festival celebrated in Himachal Pradesh, beginning on Vijayadashami. It honors Lord Raghunath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, with a grand procession of over 200 deities from surrounding villages, carried on decorated palanquins. The festival starts with worship at the Raghunath temple in Sultanpur, followed by the “milni” ritual where deities meet. A wooden chariot carrying Lord Raghunath is pulled to the Dhalpur grounds amid drumbeats and chanting. Traditional dances like Nati and local folk music fill the air with devotion and happiness.
Date: October 2, 2025, to October 8, 2025
Dussehra Festival Story
Dussehra celebrates the victory of good over evil. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama, aided by his brother Lakshmana and the monkey god Hanuman, fought a fierce battle to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. After nine days of struggle, Rama defeated Ravana on the tenth day, symbolizing the triumph of righteousness. In Eastern India, the festival also honors Goddess Durga, who killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura after nine days of battle. Dussehra marks the end of Navratri and is celebrated with effigy burning, prayers, and festive joy across India.
Summing Up
Dussehra’s festivities showcase India’s rich cultural heritage. The festival’s significance varies across regions, but its essence remains the same: the triumph of good over evil. Experience the diversity of India’s cultural landscape through Dussehra’s celebrations. Where are you going to celebrate Dussehra in India this year?
