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परंपराएं
How Dussehra is actually celebrated — the specific practices, described plainly, and how they differ between states and communities.
Dussehra 2026: 20 October 20261 dayदशहरा
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Specific practices rather than a general mood.
The national version of a festival is usually a compromise. This is the actual picture.
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.
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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.