Dussehra Celebrations Across India: A Vibrant Display of Culture and Tradition.

In pictures:  Celebrations across India as devotees mark Dussehra festival.

Nikita Yadav | BBC News |  Delhi | Oct 2, 2025:: Millions of Indians are celebrating Dussehra – one of Hinduism’s most important festivals – that symbolises the triumph of good over evil.

Dussehra commemorates the deity Lord Ram’s victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravan.

Across the country, Dussehra is marked with different rituals and traditions, but a common celebratory grandeur.

Dussehra falls on the tenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar and is preceded by the festival of Navratri (the nine nights leading up to Dussehra), when people worship different forms of the Hindu goddess Durga.

During Dussehra, grand performances including vibrant music and dance nights are typically held in open-air grounds in towns and villages across India.

People visit their friends and family, exchange sweets and gifts and spend evenings at pop-up carnivals with ferris wheels and swings.

During the festival, people wearing elaborate costumes typically enact the Ramlila – a theatrical rendition of the two millennia-old epic Ramayana.

These performances take place on brightly lit stages, where artists dressed in vibrant costumes and makeup, play characters from the epic.

They narrate stories of Lord Ram’s exile from his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, Sita’s abduction by the demon-king Ravan and the ultimate battle that leads to her rescue.

The final act of the Ramlila is enacted on Dussehra day, when Ravan is killed by Ram, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

This is marked by burning colourful effigies of Ravan, his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnath.

Large crowds gather to witness the spectacle and watch the figures go up in flames.

Dussehra also marks the beginning of preparations for Diwali – the festival of lights – which is held 20 days later.
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Courtesy: BBC.

Post Script by HinduExistence:

Dussehra Celebrations Across India: A Vibrant Display of Culture and Tradition

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is a significant festival in India, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The celebrations vary across regions, showcasing the country’s rich cultural diversity.

Regional Celebrations
– North India: Grand Ram Leela performances and effigy burning of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad.
– Varanasi: Month-long Ramnagar Ramlila and sacred Ganga River rituals.
– Ayodhya: Deep devotion and grandeur, with Ram Leela performances.
– South India: Mysore Dasara, a royal festival with illuminated palaces, decorated elephants, and cultural events.
– Tamil Nadu: Golu, a display of dolls and figurines, and Ayudha Puja, worshipping tools and vehicles.
– East India: Durga Puja celebrations, with elaborate idols and immersion processions.
– Kolkata: UNESCO-recognized Durga Puja, with beautifully themed pandals and cultural programs.
– West India: Garba and Dandiya Raas nights, with vibrant traditional attire.
– Gujarat: Navratri celebrations, with massive gatherings and dance competitions.

Unique Traditions
– Kullu Dussehra: A week-long festival in Himachal Pradesh, featuring a grand procession of Lord Raghunath’s idol and nearly 200 village deities.
– Bastar Dussehra: A 75-day celebration in Chhattisgarh, honoring Goddess Danteshwari with tribal rituals and cultural events.
– Mysore Dasara: A royal festival in Karnataka, showcasing decorated elephants, cultural performances, and worship of Goddess Chamundeshwari .

Spiritual Significance
Dussehra symbolizes the victory of good over evil, righteousness over sin, and light over darkness. It’s a time for spiritual reflection, cultural gatherings, and joyous celebrations.