Mysuru: A Royal Spectacle
Mysuru's ten-day 'Dasara' is a spectacle of royal grandeur, a tradition carried forward by the Wodeyar dynasty for over 400 years. The entire city becomes a festive stage, but the main attraction is the Mysore Palace, illuminated by nearly 100,000 bulbs.
The festival culminates in the magnificent 'Jamboo Savari' (Elephant Procession) on Vijayadashami. An idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried in a 750-kg golden howdah atop a decorated elephant, parading from the palace to Bannimantap. The days are filled with cultural programmes, food festivals, and a grand torchlight parade in the evening, making it a complete sensory experience rooted in regal history.
Kolkata: The City as an Art Gallery
In Kolkata, the festival is celebrated as Durga Puja, and the city transforms into a massive, open-air art gallery. The highlight is 'pandal-hopping' to see the temporary pavilions, each built around a unique theme. These pandals are not just places of worship but ambitious art installations, with themes ranging from social issues to pop culture. The festival is a feast for the senses, filled with the beats of the 'dhaak' drum, the 'dhunuchi' dance (a ritual with an earthen incense burner), and an incredible array of street food. On the final day, married women participate in 'Sindoor Khela', smearing vermilion on each other before the idols are immersed in the river.
Kullu: A Gathering of Deities
While most of India concludes its celebrations on Vijayadashami, in Kullu, the festivities are just beginning. The International Kullu Dussehra is a week-long festival held in the Dhalpur Maidan. Its most unique feature is the gathering of over 200 local deities, brought down from mountain villages in ornate palanquins to pay homage to Lord Raghunath, the valley's ruling deity. This 'divine assembly' creates a powerful spiritual atmosphere. The evenings are dedicated to an international folk festival, with music and dance performances from troupes around the world. The festival concludes not with the burning of Ravana's effigy but with the 'Lanka Dahan' ceremony, where a pile of grass and twigs is set ablaze on the banks of the Beas river.
Varanasi: An Epic Theatrical Journey
Varanasi’s celebration is defined by the 'Ramlila', a month-long theatrical retelling of the Ramayana. The most famous is the Ramnagar Ramlila, which has been performed for nearly two centuries and is recognised by UNESCO. Instead of a single stage, the entire town of Ramnagar becomes a set, with different locations representing Ayodhya, Lanka, and other key places from the epic. The audience follows the actors from one location to the next, becoming part of the performance in a walking pilgrimage. The play is performed by lamplight without modern technology, preserving its authentic, devotional spirit. It’s an immersive experience where theatre, faith, and history merge.
Bastar: A 75-Day Tribal Tribute
The Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh is one of the world's longest festivals, spanning 75 days, and is completely distinct from the Ramayana narrative. It is a celebration of nature, spirituality, and the region's presiding deity, Maa Danteshwari. The festival involves a series of intricate tribal rituals, such as 'Pat Jatra' (the worship of wood for chariot making) and 'Jogi Bithai' (where an ascetic observes a nine-day penance). A key event is the chariot procession, where a massive chariot is pulled by devotees. This Dussehra offers a deep dive into the unique customs and strong community bonds of the region's tribal heritage, culminating in a 'Muria Durbar', a ceremonial assembly of tribal chiefs.
Gujarat: Dance, Devotion, and Delicacies
In Gujarat, the nine nights leading up to Dussehra are a vibrant celebration of Navratri, dominated by the energetic folk dances of Garba and Dandiya Raas. Communities gather in open grounds, with dancers in traditional attire moving in synchronised circles to rhythmic beats. The festival is as much about food as it is about dance. On Dussehra morning, there is a widespread tradition of eating 'fafda' (a crispy gram flour snack) and 'jalebi' (a sweet, syrupy fried pretzel). This culinary ritual is so popular that it has become an integral part of the state’s Dussehra identity, with sweet and farsan shops bustling from dawn.
