Dussehra 2025, also known as Vijayadashami, is one of India’s most celebrated festivals, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. While the core meaning remains the same, each region brings its unique cultural traditions and rituals, offering travelers a chance to witness diverse celebrations across the country.
1. Kolkata: Durga Puja Extravaganza
In Kolkata, Dussehra coincides with Durga Puja, celebrating Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. The city is adorned with elaborate pandals, each featuring creative themes and artwork. Devotees enjoy cultural performances, traditional dances, and festive feasts. The final day features Sindoor Khela, a joyful Bengali ritual where married women apply vermilion to each other’s faces, adding a spiritual and cultural touch.
2. Ahmedabad: Ravan Dahan Spectacle
Ahmedabad celebrates Dussehra with the grand Ravan Dahan, where massive effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran are burnt. The event includes music, dance, and cultural performances, drawing large crowds. The burning of effigies signifies the triumph of good over evil and is a highlight of the city’s celebrations.
3. Delhi: Ramlila and Ravana Effigy Burning
In Delhi, elaborate Ramlila performances bring the Ramayana to life. Actors in vibrant costumes enact stories of Lord Ram, Sita, and Ravana, concluding with the burning of Ravana’s effigy. The festivities feature fireworks, fairs, and cultural programs, attracting thousands of spectators from across India.
4. Punjab: Devotional Festivities
Dussehra in Punjab emphasizes faith and devotion. Followers participate in fasts, night vigils (Jagraatas), and community feasts (Bhandaras). The festival includes processions, prayers, and worship of Goddess Shakti, reflecting the state’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
5. Bastar, Chhattisgarh: Bastar Dussehra
The Bastar Dussehra is a unique 75-day celebration dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari. Tribal customs play a central role, including symbolic transfer of power, parades, and traditional dances. Major rituals such as Pat Jatra and Rath Yatra showcase nature-centric traditions and indigenous tribal culture, making it one of India’s most distinctive Dussehra experiences.
6. Chennai: Bommai Kolu Tradition
In Chennai, families celebrate Dussehra with Bommai Kolu, arranging dolls and figurines on stepped platforms. The displays often depict mythological stories and everyday life scenes, accompanied by storytelling, cultural performances, and distribution of prasadam (sacred offerings). This tradition highlights the artistic and familial aspects of the festival.
7. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh: Week-Long Festivities
Kullu Dussehra is a week-long festival famous for its vibrant processions, folk music, and cultural performances. Unlike other regions, celebrations begin on Vijayadashami and continue for several days. The local deity, Raghunath, is taken out in a grand procession, attracting tourists and devotees from all over India.
