Isn’t it delightful to experience the festive atmosphere that has once again enveloped the nation? We certainly think so. India is joyfully observing Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami 2026, with great enthusiasm. The name “Navratri” means “nine nights,” and the festival is about the triumph of good over evil. Depending on the part of the country, Dussehra is often referred to as the commemoration of Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana or the conquest of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura. The Navratri festival commences on the first day of the bright half of Ashvin, or Ashwayuja, according to the traditional Hindu calendar. This year, the dates for Sharad Navratri span from 11 October through 19 October, concluding with Dussehra or Vijayadashami, which falls on the 10th day, October 20. Although Navratri is observed throughout the nation, its manifestation differs substantially across regions. Here is the list of 9 most exceptional locations throughout India that exemplify the most distinguished Navratri and Dussehra celebrations as part of India tour packages.
Kolkata, West Bengal
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Durga Puja stands as one of the most prominent festivals observed in West Bengal, with particular significance in Kolkata. This five-day cultural celebration spans from the sixth through the ninth day of Navratri, culminating with Durga Visarjan on the tenth day. According to tradition, this period marks the occasion when Goddess Durga returns to visit her ancestral residence. In December 2021, Durga Puja in Kolkata received recognition on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Throughout the ten-day observance, the city undergoes a remarkable transformation into what UNESCO designates as the world’s most expansive public art festival, with neighborhoods throughout the metropolis featuring elaborate pandals, artistic displays, ornate idols of Goddess Durga, cultural performances, and brilliantly illuminated thoroughfares. Visitors have the opportunity to engage in pandal exploration during evening hours, observe conventional ceremonies, and participate in the city’s vibrant festive ambiance while enjoying bhog and authentic Bengali as part of the Kolkata tour packages. The streets becomes populated with numerous food vendors offering exceptional Bengali fare, encompassing casual street offerings such as puchkas alongside conventional confections including Rasgulla and sandesh. The festival concludes with Bisorjon, the ceremonial immersion of the idols within the Hooghly River.
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Mysore, Karnataka
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Dasara stands as the most renowned and regal festival observed in Mysore, extending across a ten-day period. Referred to as Nadahabba, Mysore Dasara functions as Karnataka’s official state festival, with a distinguished heritage of royal support commencing in 1610 under the Wodeyar dynasty. Throughout the ten days of Navratri, the Mysore Palace is brilliantly illuminated each night by approximately 100,000 light bulbs, complemented by cultural exhibitions presented before the palace, establishing it as an essential experience within Mysore tour packages. The festival’s principal attraction is the Jumboo Savari procession held on the day of Vijayadashami, a custom originating from the venerable veneration of Goddess Chamundeshwari, wherein an idol of the goddess is carried throughout the city upon a gold-adorned ceremonial mantapa accompanied with musical performances, dance ensembles, and ornamental floats. It is concluding with an illuminated torch procession in the evening at the Bannimantap grounds of Mysore, among the most frequented tourist places near Bangalore. Attendees may observe the procession without charge along the designated route or acquire official ‘Gold Card’ tickets for enhanced viewing privileges at the palace and the torch procession. These tickets typically become available for purchase several weeks preceding the festival through the official Mysuru Dasara website.
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Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
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Kullu Dussehra is a celebrated festival in the Kullu Valley, taking place in October in Himachal Pradesh. The festivities occur at Dhalpur Maidan in the Kullu Valley, among the must-include places in Himachal Pradesh tour packages. The event commences on Vijayadashami and lasts for seven days. This festival commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over evil. During this period, approximately 200 local deities, including the goddess Hadimba from Manali, are ceremoniously transported to the Temple of Raghunathji. The celebration concludes with the lighting of a pile of wood and grass on the banks of the Beas River on the final day, symbolizing the burning of Lanka, a significant event in the Ramayana. The State government has designated Kullu Dussehra as an International festival, drawing over 400,000 to 500,000 visitors from various parts of the globe. Kullu is recognized as one of the premier locations to celebrate Dussehra in India and among the most famous tourist places near Delhi. Other notable attractions in Kullu include Naggar Castle, Bijli Mahadev Temple, Manali, and Manikaran.
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Ahmedabad, Gujarat
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Ahmedabad stands as one of the premier destinations for experiencing the nine-day Navratri celebration within Gujarat tour packages. Honoring the nine manifestations of Maa Shakti, devotees undertake sunrise-to-sunset fasting for nine consecutive days and participate in ritualistic fast-breaking ceremonies. Throughout Ahmedabad, the festive period assumes a distinctly Gujarati character, with Navratri converting the city into a vibrant showcase of music, dance, and communal engagement. As daylight fades, residents attired in colourful traditional garments assemble for Garba and Dandiya performances, with festivities extending well into the evening hours. GMDC Ground, Mirchi Rock & Dhol, YMCA Club, CEPT University, and Rajpath Club serve as prominent locations for observing Garba as part of Ahmedabad tour packages. Garba constitutes a devotional circular dance executed around an illuminated lamp or representation of Goddess Amba, wherein participants move in a counter-clockwise direction following progressively accelerating rhythmic patterns synchronized with traditional folk music. In December 2023, UNESCO designated the Garba of Gujarat as part of its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking India’s fifteenth entry on this distinguished list. During the eighth and ninth days of the Navratri festival, devotees present offerings to Goddess Durga. The day immediately following the Navratri festival is Dussehra, which commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana.
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Ayodhya
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Dussehra marks Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, so Ayodhya becomes more than a normal pilgrimage destination. Dussehra in Ayodhya is celebrated with grand spiritual significance, traditional Ramlila enactments, and temple rituals at the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, most famous places to visit in Ayodhya. Shobha Yatra, a procession is taken out through the streets of Ayodhya, in which devotees dress up as Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman. The processions depict events from the Ramayana. During Dussehra, thousands of lamps will be lit at the temple and Saryu Ghat. Here, Ramlila isn’t just a performance, it’s a deeply ingrained tradition. Witness the epic Ramayana unfold over ten to twelve days, each evening dedicated to a different chapter in the Ramcharitmanas. The scene of Ravana Dahan will be the biggest highlight of Dussehra celebrations in Ayodhya, among the most popular pilgrimage sites in India.
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Bastar, Chhattisgarh
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The most important festival in Bastar is the Dussehra when all the deities from surrounding villages unite at the temple of Danteshwari in Jagdalpur, the district headquarters. Unlike Dussehra in other parts of India, here it is not linked with Rama. In Bastar, the tribes celebrate Dussehra as a congregation of Devi Mavli (Bastar’s native deity, revered as the elder sister of Devi Danteshwari), and all her sisters. Lasting over 75 days, Dussehra in Bastar begins on amavasya (dark moon) in the month of Shravan and ends on the 13th day of the bright moon in the month of Ashvin. Dussehra celebrations in Bastar are unique in every way. The festival involves participation of all the major tribes of Bastar. Grand processions are carried out where all the idols of gods and goddesses from the nearby villages are brought to the temple of Danteshwari and are worshipped with great devotion. The main attraction of the holy procession is a double-decker chariot (rath). The festival involves rituals of extraordinary rigor like a girl swinging on a bed of thorns and a youth (jogi) sitting in vigil, buried shoulder-deep, for nine days.
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
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Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is a significant festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh. This festival is marked by grand celebrations at the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada,a mong the most famous pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh. It spans over nine days, culminating on the tenth day of Vijayadashami. The ten-day Dussehra festival commences at the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, situated along the banks of the Krishna River. A major highlight of the festival is the chief deity, Kanaka Durga Devi, who is adorned in various forms (avatars) throughout the ten days. The day’s Alankaram is selected based on the astrological star corresponding to each day, following the lunar calendar. Vijayawada is recognized as one of the premier places to visit near Hyderabad. During Dussehra, special pujas are conducted, with the most notable being the Saraswati puja and Theppotsavam. A significant number of pilgrims participate in the vibrant celebrations and take a sacred dip in the Krishna River.
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Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
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Navratri infuses Varanasi with a vibrant atmosphere of celebration and spirituality. For ten days, from the festival’s commencement until Dussehra, the city becomes a favored destination for holy sages and devotees alike. The primary highlight of the festival is Ramlila, a dance drama that portrays the lives of Rama, Sita, and Lakshman during their exile, performed on a temporary stage. Located 15 kilometers from the city, Ramnagar is renowned for this event, which is a must-see for anyone exploring Uttar Pradesh tour packages. Ramlila in Ramnagar takes place over the course of a month, coinciding with a large fair at the Ramlila ground. The entire town of Ramnagar transforms into a stage, depicting various scenes such as Ashok Vatika, Panchavati, Janakpuri, and Lanka. Local actors portray a diverse array of characters from the Ramayana. Each year, over a million pilgrims flock to witness the grand processions and performances of Ramlila. On Vijayadashami, Rama triumphs over Ravan, filling the air with the sounds of fireworks and crackers. The day following Dussehra features a performance known as Bharat Milaap, which depicts the meeting of Rama and Bharata. Additionally, visitors should not miss the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Kaal Bhairav Temple, Assi Ghat, Durga Temple, and the magnificent Ramnagar Fort as part of the Varanasi tour packages.
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Delhi
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Dussehra in Delhi represents one of the most vibrant and captivating expressions of the festival. After nine days of worship and fasting, the celebration culminates in a spectacular fireworks display as the enormous effigies of Ravana and his malevolent brothers are ignited. The Dussehra festival in Delhi commemorates Rama’s triumph over Ravana. Temples dedicated to Lord Rama are adorned with flowers and illuminated with lamps throughout every corner of the capital. The atmosphere is filled with religious music and recitations of the Ramayana. Nearly 1000 Ramlila performances and 250 puja pandals events take place in the city, which can be included in Delhi tour packages. Ramlila serves as the primary cultural event, occurring on festive evenings across the city. The most renowned Ramlila performances in Delhi are those held at Ramlila Maidan and the Red Fort lawns. The highlight of the Dussehra celebrations in Delhi is the burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran, and Meghanath on the festival’s final day. This event is followed by a breathtaking fireworks display. Notable places to visit in Delhi include Jantar Mantar, Red Fort, Birla Mandir, Akshardham Temple, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and ISKON Temple.
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Kota, Rajasthan
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The Kota Dussehra celebrations hold a significant position in Rajasthan, celebrated on a grand scale annually. Local residents engage in the festivities with enthusiasm, while the event also attracts a considerable number of visitors from outside, including international tourists, who come to experience the magnificent celebrations in Kota, one of the premier places to visit near Jaipur. A key highlight of the Kota Dussehra festival is the towering 75-foot effigies of the demon Ravana. Additional features of the Kota Dussehra festivities include vibrant processions and stunning portrayals of the life of Lord Rama along with other principal characters from the Ramayana. The celebrations conclude with the burning of the Ravana effigy. Villagers assemble here adorned in colorful attire to offer prayers to Lord Rama and commemorate his triumph over Ravana. Esteemed artists from across the nation are invited to take part in cultural events that captivate the large audience with their performances as part of the Rajasthan tour packages. A fair, known as the Kota Dussehra Fair, is held for a period of two weeks.
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