Best places to celebrate Dusshera in India

The festive season that we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived! With the last quarter of 2020 taking over, there are far too many things to be excited about. Be it brand new ethnic wear to sprucing up the home, the house bustles with fun and frolic as everyone is equally enthused by the festive season. The first festival to bless us is the magical nine days Navratri followed by the tenth day Dussehra. There are many significances to the festival of Dussehra depending on which part of India you are at. Dussehra in India is celebrated with a lot of diversity as different regions of the country have an interesting way of ringing in the festival. So, how about tweaking your celebrations this year and finding out the fun ways in which Dussehra is celebrated in diverse states of India. We have listed out some of the best places to celebrate Dussehra in India and the interesting ritual celebrations conducted by them! Check them out below.

Best places to celebrate Dussehra in India and why

Almora

At Almora, the festivities are rather serious with vengeance in the air. The locals use the Dussehra time to take revenge upon the demons of Ramayana. A few ritual celebrations in Dussehra as taken up by locals include making statues of the villainous characters from Ramayana and parade them around before burning them to ashes. This also includes the burning of effigies of the entire Ravana clan. The entire civilization comes over to be part of this procession all decked up with music bands performing. It is quite an experience and certainly one of a kind that you might enjoy. Uttarakhand can be considered as one of the popular states in India for Dussehra celebrations. The 10th day of Dussehra is quite happening in Almora, and you might find it very intriguing.

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Delhi

One of the most notable things about Dussehra celebrations in India's capital is the Ramlila shows that takes place mostly at the city's Ramlila Maidan and Red Fort. Ramlila shows usually depict the last ten days of Ramayana leading up to the end of Ravana at the hands of Lord Ram. This also allows several theatre actors to be part of a theatre group. There are many performances at other tourist attractions of Delhi too such as Lal Qila Maidan, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, August Park, to name a few. A stage is set for the performances along with food stalls and exquisite light work. The Dussehra celebrations in Delhi are quite fancy and interesting so that you might have a good time here, after all.

Kolkata

During Dussehra celebrations, Kolkata turns into a city of the 10-day carnival! With Durga Puja being observed by Bengalis during Dussehra, the celebrations are certainly different. There is a slew of pandals erected with Maa Durga's idols residing in all of them. Adding to the thrills of the festival, there are excess purveyors, and food stalls all present on the streets right outside these pandals. Not to mention how they also come up with fascinating lighting shows and make a big deal of the pandal decorations with themes set every year. Kolkata is truly one of the best places to visit for Dussehra celebrations. The vibe is totally cultural and traditionally opulent. There won't be a single moment of dullness in your trip.

Coorg

Also called Madikeri Dasara, the Dussehra celebrations of Coorg have completely different relevance to their culture. At the same time, much of the celebrations across India have Dussehra's relevance to Lord Rama and Maa Durga and their mythological tales. Coorg's Dussehra celebrations observe Draupadi though. In fact, much of the rituals that take place during Dussehra celebrations in Coorg such as folk dances, traditional poojas and other festivities are all dedicated to Goddess Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. Further, the Dussehra celebration preparations in Madikeri start much in advance. They have been practising the tradition of preparing for Dussehra 3 months in advance for over 100 years now. The last two days of Dussehra though are just as important to them as they are to the rest of the country.

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Kota

Kota also has a very interesting approach to Dussehra celebrations. In fact, it is considered to be one of the best places for Dussehra celebrations in India. They have proper traditional Dussehra fairs in Kota. The fair is usually accompanied by artisans, cultural performers, programs such as Ramlila performances and more. You will notice much of the villagers dressing up in ethnic costumes.

Further, you can also hear chants of Shri Ram reverberate in the city as you walk around. Located right by the banks of the Chambal river, the fair is quite a crowd puller that lasts for ten days. The last three days of Dussehra is when you notice more vigour and excitement among the people. There are many indulgences for tourists as well, so you can choose this place for your Dussehra celebration.

Kullu

It might be slightly surprising to many, but Kullu is one of the best places to experience Dussehra in India. Unlike how the usual festivities begin for Dussehra, Kullu has a slightly different take on things. While the 10th day of Dussehra is considered to be the last one, Kullu's festivities begin on that day. In fact, they kick off their celebrations on the 10th day of Dussehra and continue for one whole week. Some of the top attractions in Kullu during Dussehra include phool yatra, Nainadevi fair, Kullu fair in October and an international folk festival. Basically, the quaint town of Kullu is lit with exquisite festivities as the streets have fervent festivalgoers wearing their best ensembles and relishing the vibrant vibe. The ritual celebrations taken up in Kullu during Dussehra are really something and definitely worth the trip!

Bastar

The rituals of Dussehra celebrations in Bastar, Chattisgarh are quite diverse from how they are celebrated in the rest of the country. Some of them are traditional relevant and have been followed for ages now. Bastar's Dussehra celebrations though do not correlate Lord Rama and his return. They have a 75-day long festival which is dedicated to the local goddess. During this time, the tribal women are decked up in their tribal ensembles, bright attires, performing rare and intriguing rituals. Your interest would certainly be piqued by the way they celebrate Dussehra. It is extremely different, yet very intriguing. There are massive chariots, dancing, drums and a youth buried in a pit, shoulder-deep, for nine days!

Varanasi

Varanasi is known to be one of the most spiritual places to visit in India. Needless to say, the Dussehra celebrations here are also quite fascinating. While Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi is very famous and a major tourist attraction, during Dussehra, the holy city does attract many pilgrims too. Varanasi also has Ramlila performances that take place. However, what sets it apart from the ones in Delhi is the fact that at the holy city, you will find the oldest Ramlila performances. They have been running for more than 200 years now, which is quite awesome. Other important and interesting rituals that take place in Varanasi during Dussehra include special aarti on the ghats, holy dips in the Ganges and many such activities. It would be an interesting and exciting experience.

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