Ramlila & Dussehra 2026 in Delhi: Where to Watch Ravan Dahan
Updated 2026-10-04 · 7 min read · by the delhi2go team
Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, 20 October, and Delhi’s Ramlilas run nightly through Navratri in the lead-up to it. The Lav Kush Ramlila at the Red Fort grounds is scheduled for 11–21 October. The best places to watch Ravan Dahan are the Red Fort grounds, Ramlila Maidan and the big Dwarka grounds. Arrive by 5 pm and take the metro, because the roads around them close or jam by evening.
Dussehra 2026: key dates
| What | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Navratri and nightly Ramlilas begin | Sun, 11 Oct | Most big Ramlilas start on or around the first Navratri night |
| Ashtami and Navami | Mon, 19 Oct | Usually the Lanka dahan and battle episodes |
| Dussehra / Ravan Dahan | Tue, 20 Oct | Gazetted holiday; effigies burn after dusk |
| Bharat Milap (at some Ramlilas) | Wed, 21 Oct | Lav Kush Ramlila runs till 21 October |
Durga Puja runs alongside, with Bengali Bijoya Dashami on 21 October. See our Durga Puja guide if you want to combine the two.
The famous Ramlilas of Delhi
Lav Kush Ramlila, Red Fort grounds
This is Delhi’s most theatrical Ramlila. The Luv Kush Ramlila Committee has announced its 2026 run from 11 to 21 October at the Red Fort grounds, with Dussehra celebrations on 20 October. The committee’s 2026 plans, as reported in September, include:
- A Meenakshi Temple-inspired stage: three tiers, about 150 ft long, 60 ft wide and 45 ft high, lit by more than ten lakh LEDs
- Airborne scenes: the Ram–Ravan battle will be staged in “flying chariots” about 250 ft up, and Hanuman will descend from 300 ft
- Celebrity casting: close to 40 film and TV performers are expected. Actor Raja Murad plays Narad, and MP Manoj Tiwari takes several roles. The leads hadn’t been named at the time of reporting.
- A simpler script, with heavy Sanskrit terms removed to pull in younger audiences
- A diya portrait: on Dussehra, an image of Lord Ram made from one lakh diyas
- Live broadcast on around 100 television channels, if you’d rather watch from home
Nearest metro: Lal Quila (Violet Line), or Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line) followed by a walk.
Shri Dharmik Leela Committee, Madhav Das Park
Also at the Red Fort, Madhav Das Park hosts one of the city’s oldest and most prestigious Ramlilas. The Shri Dharmik Leela Committee was established in 1923 and has staged its Leela since the 1920s. Its Dussehra evening has often had national leaders in attendance, which means tight security. It’s the more traditional of the two Red Fort Ramlilas.
Ramlila Maidan
The ground literally takes its name from the Ramlilas staged here, and it still hosts one of the city’s big Leelas and a major Ravan Dahan. It’s a vast open ground, so sightlines are good even from the back. Nearest metro: Delhi Gate (Violet Line) or New Delhi (Yellow Line/Airport Express).
‘Shri Ram’ at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Mandi House
If you’d rather sit in a proper seat than stand in a maidan, this is the one. Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra has staged Shri Ram every year since 1957. It’s a dance-drama telling of the Ramayana, performed on the open-air lawns of the Kendra at 1 Copernicus Marg for about a month around Dussehra. In 2023, its 67th edition ran from mid-October to early November, with tickets from ₹300 to ₹3,000 on BookMyShow and at the Kendra’s box office. The 2026 dates hadn’t been confirmed when we checked in early October, so look at the listing before planning. Nearest metro: Mandi House (Blue/Violet). Our Mandi House theatre guide covers the rest of the neighbourhood.
Neighbourhood Ramlilas
Almost every Delhi colony with a park has a Ramlila. Most residential areas, from Rohini and Pitampura to Dwarka and Mayur Vihar, have their own, as do many Noida and Gurgaon sectors. Production values vary wildly, but the atmosphere of jhoolas, jalebis and uncles heckling Ravan is half the fun.
What you’ll see over the ten nights
A traditional Ramlila tells the Ramayana in episodes across Navratri, so the night you pick decides the story you’ll see. The order varies a little between committees, but it roughly runs:
- Early nights: Ram’s birth and childhood, Vishwamitra’s yagna and Sita’s swayamvar, with the breaking of Shiva’s bow
- Middle nights: the exile to the forest, Kevat ferrying Ram across the river, the golden deer and Sita’s abduction
- Later nights: Hanuman’s meeting with Ram, Lanka dahan (Hanuman setting Lanka ablaze, a crowd favourite) and the build-up to war
- Dussehra (20 October): the final battle and Ravan vadh, followed by the burning of the effigies
- After Dussehra: some Ramlilas end with Bharat Milap and Ram’s return to Ayodhya. Lav Kush Ramlila’s run goes on to 21 October.
Most committees put up a daily schedule at the ground or on social media. Shows usually start between 7 and 8 pm and run for two to three hours, and the battle nights draw the biggest crowds. If you’re taking children for the first time, the Lanka dahan night is the most fun, with fire, monkeys and a lot of noise, without the very late finish of Dussehra.
Where to watch Ravan Dahan
| Spot | Area | What to expect | Nearest metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Fort grounds (Lav Kush; Shri Dharmik Leela) | Old Delhi | The biggest crowds and VIP security; spectacle staging | Lal Quila (Violet), Chandni Chowk (Yellow) |
| Ramlila Maidan | Near Delhi Gate | A huge open ground with good sightlines | Delhi Gate (Violet), New Delhi (Yellow) |
| Dwarka Sector 10 DDA ground | Dwarka | Known for some of the city’s tallest effigies; has hosted VIP Dussehra events | Dwarka Sector 10 (Blue) |
| Your local colony park | Everywhere | Smaller effigies, short walks home, kid-friendly | — |
Timing: the effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad usually go up in flames after dusk, roughly between 6 and 8 pm. When a minister or other VIP is the chief guest, the timing tracks their arrival. Gates at the big grounds can close well before the burning once they reach capacity, so be inside by 5–5:30 pm.
Don’t miss: Titarpur, the effigy-makers’ market
In the week before Dussehra, the roadside around Titarpur in west Delhi turns into an open-air workshop. Hundreds of Ravan effigies of every size, from tabletop to towering, are built from bamboo, paper and paint. It’s one of the most photogenic sights of the season, and it’s free. Go in daylight a few days before Dussehra. The nearest metros are Tagore Garden and Subhash Nagar on the Blue Line.
Traffic and getting there
- Take the metro. On Ravan Dahan evening, roads around the Red Fort (Netaji Subhash Marg and the Chandni Chowk approaches), Ramlila Maidan and the Dwarka grounds see diversions and heavy jams.
- Check the advisory. Delhi Traffic Police post route advisories on their X account (@dtptraffic) in the days before Dussehra. These usually cover the Red Fort and Ramlila Maidan areas and any VIP movement.
- Mind the half marathon. The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is on the morning of Sunday, 18 October, in the middle of Ramlila week. It has traditionally started from JLN Stadium, so expect central road closures that morning.
- Go home in stages. Metro stations nearest the big grounds get mobbed right after the dahan. Walk 15 minutes to the next station, or wait out the first surge at a chai stall.
- Set a meeting point in case you get separated, because mobile networks often choke in large crowds.
For a live list of Ramlilas and Dussehra melas, check our Dussehra and Ramlila hub. See this week’s events for what’s on around the city, or the festival events this weekend page closer to the date.
Safety and comfort
- Keep your distance from the effigies. They’re stuffed with fireworks and debris flies. Stay well behind the barricades, especially with children.
- Ear protection for kids: the bangs are loud. Toddlers and pets are better off at a smaller colony event, or at home.
- Smoke and air quality: effigy burning and fireworks add to Delhi’s October smog. If anyone in your group has asthma, carry a mask and inhaler. The rules on firecrackers for 2026 were still being settled by the Supreme Court in early October; our Diwali guide has the latest.
- Pickpockets: keep phones and wallets in front pockets or a zipped sling bag.
- Footwear: maidans are dusty and uneven, so wear closed shoes.
Make an evening of it
The big Ramlila grounds are surrounded by melas, with giant wheels, toy stalls, and jalebi, chaat and kulfi carts. They’re perfect with kids before the evening’s episode starts, usually around 7–8 pm. In Old Delhi, combine a Red Fort Ramlila with dinner in the lanes around Jama Masjid, or a walk through Chandni Chowk. Our Old Delhi area page lists what else is on nearby.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dussehra 2026?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. It is a gazetted holiday in Delhi, and Ravan Dahan takes place that evening at Ramlila grounds across the city.
What are the dates of Lav Kush Ramlila 2026?
The Luv Kush Ramlila Committee has announced its 2026 Ramlila for 11–21 October at the Red Fort grounds, with Dussehra celebrations on 20 October.
Which is the most famous Ramlila in Delhi?
The two big Red Fort Ramlilas are the most famous: Lav Kush Ramlila, with its celebrity casts and spectacle, and Shri Dharmik Leela Committee's at Madhav Das Park, which dates back to the 1920s. Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra's 'Shri Ram' dance-drama at Mandi House is the best-known ticketed, stage version.
What time is Ravan Dahan in Delhi?
Effigies are usually burnt after dusk, roughly between 6 pm and 8 pm on Dussehra. Big events with VIP guests can shift the timing, so arrive early.
Is entry to Delhi's Ramlilas free?
Most community Ramlilas, including the big Red Fort ones, are free to watch from the general area, with reserved or VIP enclosures for pass-holders. The Shri Ram dance-drama at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra is ticketed.