10 Best Places in India to Celebrate Dussehra in 2024!!

Happy smiles and loyal hearts: from September to October, India’s many traditions and customs will be on full display, showcasing their vibrant colours. The well-known celebration of Dussehra, which is celebrated across the nation as Vijayadashami and Durga Puja, ushers in the festival season. India’s ten-day Dussehra festival, which spans from Gujarat to Arunachal and Himachal to Karnataka, radiates ethnic splendour. You can explore India’s cultural radiance by scrolling below to discover their places and modes of celebration.

Hindus in India celebrate Dussehra with great fervour and excitement. It’s among India’s greatest October celebrations. The celebration honours the triumph of good over evil. The 10-day long event includes melas and Ramlila – a dramatisation of the scenes from Ramayana. The scene of Ravana Dahan is performed on the tenth day. The effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhakarna are then set on fire. The melas, which feature food vendors, gaming stalls, Ferris wheels, and other entertaining activities, are hosted at different Ramlila venues around the nation. At the busiest Ramlila locations, well-known celebrities make appearances, and the celebration areas are beautifully lit.

Notwithstanding all the similarities, it is a lesser-known reality that the causes and components of Dussehra celebrations vary from location to location. We now present to you the finest of the best Dussehra celebrations in India, just as the stage is being prepared for the most extravagant festivities.

10 Places to Celebrate Dussehra in India

Here are a few wonderful locations in India where you may enjoy the grand celebration of Dussehra. There are even more reasons to attend because the celebrations are incredibly special and uncommon in several areas of the nation. Thus, this is all the information you require, covering India’s north to south.

1. Kullu

As surprising as it may sound, Kullu Dussehra has become well-known among travellers searching for extraordinary events worldwide. One of the top destinations for Dussehra tourism is Kullu. The celebrations in Kullu are a little unorthodox, even for India, starting at a time when the celebrants in other states are leaving for their 10-day festivities. Kullu celebrates for a week beginning on the tenth day of Dussehra. Go to Kullu to see the greatest Dussehra celebration in all of India. It is but one of the many ways that north India celebrates Dussehra.

2. Almora

Almora has a ferocious Dussehra celebration. The townspeople exact revenge on the Ramayana’s monsters. All of the antagonists and villains from the Ramayana are sculpted by the villagers and paraded around. You really should put Almora on your list of locations to visit during Dussehra as it is among the greatest. The parade comes to a conclusion with the monuments reduced to ashes in an open space. The people burn down the sacrifices made by the entire clan of Ravana. It’s quite the sight to see hundreds of people in a procession complete with music bands and decorations. 

3. Delhi

The fact that Delhi’s Dussehra celebrations are visible from all throughout the city is its greatest feature. The Ramlila shows, which take place mostly at the Ramlila Maidan and Red Fort, are the climax of the celebrations. The plays tell the Ramayana over the course of ten days, with Lord Rama killing Ravana on the last day. The Dussehra celebration in India is a time when a large number of theatre players participate in performances that delight the audience.  

4. Varanasi

One of India’s most significant religious hubs, Varanasi is well-known for the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Throughout the years, this city has upheld its traditions. The oldest Ramlila performances, which have been going on for more than 200 years, can be found here. Every year, for a full month, the Ramlila is told. It begins with the birth of Lord Ram and concludes with the death of the demon king Ravana.

5. Kota

The Dussehra fair in Kota makes the traditional charms quite evident. Alongside the massive fair are craftsmen, cultural artists, and events that transport you to the heart of rural India. To offer prayers to the Lord, the villagers from all around the city dress in traditional attire. Of course, the ceremony ends with the burning of Ravana effigies. The Kota Adventure Festival, which takes place on the Chambal River, is located next to the fair. You can also explore some of the best spots near Kota on your route to observing this festival.  

6. Kolkata

It’s the season when “Good triumphs over Evil,” and Kolkata comes alive with festivities, cuisine, music, and dancing. In Kolkata, Durga Puja, also known as Durga Pooja, is the mother of all festivals. The festivities, which fall in line with Dussehra, are extraordinary. Observe the exquisite lighting, the Bengali culture, and all the embellished panels. The celebration of the occasion is extremely important since, in Bengali tradition, it overcomes all obstacles. For this reason, when you witness the Dussehra festival in India, you will notice enormous gatherings, thousands of people, and glitter everywhere. 

7. Bastar

Bastar, Chattisgarh, is where Indians celebrate Dussehra in a most peculiar and unusual way. Although it has great significance in the area, it has nothing to do with Lord Rama’s victorious homecoming. Bastar celebrates Dussehra in honour of the local goddess. With 75 extended days, it’s one of the world’s longest festivals. If you are visiting Raipur during the season, this is also one of the greatest things to do there.  

8. Coorg

Another well-liked location for travellers to visit during the Dussehra celebration is Coorg, one of South India’s best hill stations. The festivities, which are also known as Madikeri Dasara, begin with customary and ceremonial karaga folk dances. The Pandavas’ wife, Goddess Draupadi, is honoured in the rites. In honour of the last day, the celebration lasts all night on the ninth day. The 100-year-old Madikeri dasara ritual is celebrated by the residents, who begin preparations three months in advance. 

9. Mysore

The state festival of Karnataka, Mysore, is called “Nadahabba.” In India, Dussehra is a well-known holiday that has been celebrated for 400 years. This event is held in the area to commemorate goddess Chamundeshwari’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. The celebration lasts for ten days, beginning on the first day of Navratri and ending on the tenth, when a royal procession carries an idol of the goddess that is worshipped in a decked elephant. Popular highlights during Mysore’s Dussehra are the lighting of the palace and the participation of the royal family. You have never seen an even larger Dussehra Mela in India than this one. 

10. Kulasekarapattinam

In the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, in the little-known village of Kulasekarapattinam, Dussehra is observed in a distinctive manner. The event known as Kulasai Dussehra is held at the approximately 300-year-old Mutharamman temple, which is devoted to the goddess Kali. During the event, pilgrims and followers are expected to dress as their favourite gods or goddesses. After that, the devotees dance all night long while channelling the spirit of Goddess Kali.