Loading page
इतिहास
The history, origin and significance of Dussehra — where it comes from, what it means, and how it changed over time.
Dussehra 2026: 20 October 20261 dayदशहरा
No login needed to share or download anything on TyoharHub.
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, is the tenth day of the Navratri cycle. It marks Rama's victory over Ravana in the Ramayana and Durga's victory over Mahishasura in the Devi tradition, and in 2026 it falls on Tuesday 20 October.
In North India the day is dominated by Ramlila performances that run through the preceding nine nights, ending with the burning of giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad in an open ground in the evening. Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, Varanasi's Ramnagar Ramlila and Almora's Ramlila are the best-known.
In Mysuru the same day is Dasara, a ten-day state festival with the palace lit by tens of thousands of bulbs and the Jamboo Savari elephant procession on the final day. In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, Dashami is the last day of Durga Puja, marked by sindoor khela and immersion of the idols.
Dussehra is also considered one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu year for starting something — buying a vehicle, moving into a new house, beginning a course of study, or opening a business. Ayudha Puja, when tools, machines and vehicles are worshipped, falls the day before in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Almost every large Indian festival means something different in different states. That is not a contradiction — it is the history.
Ramlila in the nine preceding nights with the burning of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad effigies on Dussehra evening. Ramlila Maidan in Delhi and Ramnagar in Varanasi are the most famous. Bareilly, Almora and Varanasi all have distinct Ramlila styles.
Dasara is the state festival, running ten days with the Mysore Palace lit by close to a hundred thousand bulbs. The Jamboo Savari procession on Vijayadashami carries the golden howdah on Chamundeshwari's elephant. Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja fall in the preceding days.
Vijayadashami is Vidyarambham, when children write their first letters in rice, and Ayudha Puja the day before sees tools, vehicles and machines decorated and worshipped.
Vijaya Dashami ends Durga Puja. Married women perform sindoor khela, applying vermilion to each other and to the idol, and the idol is immersed, followed by the exchange of greetings with sweets and touching feet.
Dussehra closes the garba season. Ravana Dahan happens in most towns, and since the next day is the Gujarati new year, houses are cleaned and prepared for the new year on the same evening.
Odisha celebrates Durga Puja through Dashami with the Ravana Podi tradition in some districts. Assam observes Durga Puja with the same Dashami immersion.
Free, no login, nothing you type leaves your device.
Sources and how this was checked
Last reviewed 6 October 2026. Economic Times — October 2026 Hindu festival calendar. How we source and correct festival content.