Stories
Ravan Dahan 2026: Five Iconic Places Where India Celebrates Dussehra on a Grand Scale
- •Kota in Rajasthan hosts a centuries-old National Dussehra Fair featuring massive effigies, with Ravan reaching over 220 feet in recent years.
- •Delhi boasts a rich Ramlila history near the Red Fort and Ramlila Maidan, featuring towering effigies built by skilled artisans over months.
- •Dwarka is preparing a 221-foot effigy of Ravan for 2026 with a budget of Rs 40 lakh, involving massive iron structures and detailed craftsmanship.
- •Chandigarh and Panchkula highlight the practical challenges of outdoor installations, where artisans swiftly rebuild structures damaged by strong winds.
- •Varanasi combines factory-ground effigy burnings with the historic month-long Ramnagar Ramlila, recognized by UNESCO for preserving traditional theatrical forms.
Key Questions Answered
Kota's National Dussehra Fair traces its origins to 1723 when Maharao Durjan Shal Singh Hada established it as a three-day event featuring 20-to-25-foot effigies. For the 2025 event, Ravan's height reached between 221.5 and 233 feet, while Kumbhakarna and Meghnad stood at about 60 feet each.
Delhi's Ramlila tradition near the Red Fort dates back to the Mughal period with performances by Hindu soldiers, and later featured a committee established by Bahadur Shah Zafar. The city's first formal Ramlila committee was registered in 1860, eventually shifting from behind the fort to Ramlila Maidan as Delhi expanded.
In Varanasi's Banaras Locomotive Works grounds, 2026 preparations include towering effigies reaching up to 70 feet. Across the Ganga, the historic month-long Ramnagar Ramlila dates back to the early nineteenth century and preserves a unique tradition by beginning with Ravan's birth, using traditional lamps, and performing entirely without microphones.
