9 Popular Places to Celebrate Navratri & Dussehra Festivals

Don’t you love the festive vibe that has taken over the country again? So are we. India is celebrating Dussehra or Vijayadashami 2022 with much fervor and enthusiasm as it is one of the major festivals celebrated across India. The Navratri festival begins on the first day of the bright half of Ashvin or Ashwayuja as per traditional Hindu calendar. The dates of the Sharad Navratri this year are from September 26 and end on October 4, which would be followed with Dussehra or Vijayadashami that falls on the tenth day which is the 5th of October. Being the land of festivals, India celebrates the occasion in different ways in different parts. Some states celebrate Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasur, while Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana the King of demons is celebrated in some states. However, victory of the good over the evil is the common purpose of celebrations all over the country. Here are top 9 places that witness best Navratri & Dussehra celebrations as part of India Tour Packages.

Kolkata, West Bengal

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Durga Puja is one of the most famous festivals celebrated in West Bengal, particularly in Kolkata. It is a 5-day long cultural extravaganza starting from the 6th day till the 9th day during Navratri and the 10th day being the Durga Visarjan. It is believed that Goddess Durga visits her maiden home at this time of the year. The city is dotted with hundreds of different theme-based pandals where the life-size idols of Durga and other family members are worshiped for 5 days. Overcrowded streets, huge pandals, minarets, domes, mountain cliffs, and magnificent lighting make the 4 days of Durga Puja in Kolkata an unforgettable event. Though the festival ends with the immersion of idols on Vijayadashami, the celebration continues over the ceremony of exchanging warm greetings with near and dear ones, and the sweetening of mouths with bites of Rasagulla.

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Mysore, Karnataka

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Dasara is the most renowned and regal festival celebrated in Mysore, spanning a duration of 10 days. Known as Nadahabba, Mysore Dasara serves as the state festival of Karnataka. The primary highlight of the 10-day Mysore Dasara festival is the Mysore Palace, which is adorned with nearly 100,000 light bulbs and illuminated every day throughout the festival, making it a must-see during the Mysore tour packages. On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession, referred to locally as Jumboo Savari, takes place on the streets of Mysore , among the most famous places to visit near Bangalore. The centerpiece of this procession is the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, which is displayed on a golden mantapa atop a beautifully decorated elephant. The procession features vibrant tableaux, dance troupes, musical bands, and a variety of decorated elephants, horses, and camels. The Dasara celebrations reach their peak on the night of Vijayadashami with an event known as Panjina Kavayithu (torch-light parade) held in the grounds of Bannimantap.

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Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

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Kullu Dussehra is a celebrated festival in the Kullu Valley, taking place in October in Himachal Pradesh. The festivities occur at Dhalpur Maidan in the Kullu Valley, among the must-include places in Himachal Pradesh tour packages. The event commences on Vijayadashami and lasts for seven days. This festival commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over evil. During this period, approximately 200 local deities, including the goddess Hadimba from Manali, are ceremoniously transported to the Temple of Raghunathji. The celebration concludes with the lighting of a pile of wood and grass on the banks of the Beas River on the final day, symbolizing the burning of Lanka, a significant event in the Ramayana. The State government has designated Kullu Dussehra as an International festival, drawing over 400,000 to 500,000 visitors from various parts of the globe. Kullu is recognized as one of the premier locations to celebrate Dussehra in India and among the most famous tourist places near Delhi. Other notable attractions in Kullu include Naggar Castle, Bijli Mahadev Temple, Manali, and Manikaran.

Also Read: 11 Most Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in India

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Ahmedabad, Gujarat

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Ahmedabad, Gujarat is one of the best places to enjoy the 9 day celebration of Navratri. Dedicated to the nine aspects of Maa Shakti, devotees observe sunrise to sunset nine-day fast and fast-breaking rituals. The main highlight of the festivity of nine nights is the folk dance of Gujarat called Garba. People perform the Garba folk dance in GMDC Ground till late midnight and are a must-watch as part of Ahmedabad tour packages. During this nine-day-long festivity, Ahmedabad city is beautifully decorated with colorful lights. On the eighth and ninth day of the Navratri festival, people offer prayers to Goddess Durga. The next day after the Navratri festival is Dussehra which is observed to celebrate the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana. One can also visit several tourist places in Ahmedabad.

                         Aslo Read: Most Popular Places to visit near Ahmedabad

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Bastar, Chhattisgarh

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The most important festival in Bastar is the Dussehra when all the deities from surrounding villages unite at the temple of Danteshwari in Jagdalpur, the district headquarters. Unlike Dussehra in other parts of India, here it is not linked with Rama. In Bastar, the tribes celebrate Dussehra as a congregation of Devi Mavli (Bastar’s native deity, revered as the elder sister of Devi Danteshwari), and all her sisters. Lasting over 75 days, Dussehra in Bastar begins on amavasya (dark moon) in the month of Shravan and ends on the 13th day of the bright moon in the month of Ashvin.

Dussehra celebrations in Bastar are unique in every way. The festival involves participation of all the major tribes of Bastar. Grand processions are carried out where all the idols of gods and goddesses from the nearby villages are brought to the temple of Danteshwari and are worshipped with great devotion. The main attraction of the holy procession is a double-decker chariot (rath). The tribal folks make the 2-ton heavy chariot using traditional tools. The festival involves rituals of extraordinary rigor like a girl swinging on a bed of thorns and a youth (jogi) sitting in vigil, buried shoulder-deep, for nine days.

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Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

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Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is a significant festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh. This festival is marked by grand celebrations at the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada,a mong the most famous pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh. It spans over nine days, culminating on the tenth day of Vijayadashami. The ten-day Dussehra festival commences at the Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, situated along the banks of the Krishna River. A major highlight of the festival is the chief deity, Kanaka Durga Devi, who is adorned in various forms (avatars) throughout the ten days. The day’s Alankaram is selected based on the astrological star corresponding to each day, following the lunar calendar. Vijayawada is recognized as one of the premier places to visit near Hyderabad. During Dussehra, special pujas are conducted, with the most notable being the Saraswati puja and Theppotsavam. A significant number of pilgrims participate in the vibrant celebrations and take a sacred dip in the Krishna River.

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Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

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Navratri infuses Varanasi with a vibrant atmosphere of celebration and spirituality. For ten days, from the festival’s commencement until Dussehra, the city becomes a favored destination for holy sages and devotees alike. The primary highlight of the festival is Ramlila, a dance drama that portrays the lives of Rama, Sita, and Lakshman during their exile, performed on a temporary stage. Located 15 kilometers from the city, Ramnagar is renowned for this event, which is a must-see for anyone exploring Uttar Pradesh tour packages. Ramlila in Ramnagar takes place over the course of a month, coinciding with a large fair at the Ramlila ground. The entire town of Ramnagar transforms into a stage, depicting various scenes such as Ashok Vatika, Panchavati, Janakpuri, and Lanka. Local actors portray a diverse array of characters from the Ramayana. Each year, over a million pilgrims flock to witness the grand processions and performances of Ramlila. On Vijayadashami, Rama triumphs over Ravan, filling the air with the sounds of fireworks and crackers. The day following Dussehra features a performance known as Bharat Milaap, which depicts the meeting of Rama and Bharata. Additionally, visitors should not miss the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Kaal Bhairav Temple, Assi Ghat, Durga Temple, and the magnificent Ramnagar Fort as part of the Varanasi tour packages.

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Delhi

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Dussehra in Delhi represents one of the most vibrant and captivating expressions of the festival. After nine days of worship and fasting, the celebration culminates in a spectacular fireworks display as the enormous effigies of Ravana and his malevolent brothers are ignited. The Dussehra festival in Delhi commemorates Rama’s triumph over Ravana. Temples dedicated to Lord Rama are adorned with flowers and illuminated with lamps throughout every corner of the capital. The atmosphere is filled with religious music and recitations of the Ramayana. Nearly 1000 Ramlila performances and 250 puja pandals events take place in the city, which can be included in Delhi tour packages. Ramlila serves as the primary cultural event, occurring on festive evenings across the city. The most renowned Ramlila performances in Delhi are those held at Ramlila Maidan and the Red Fort lawns. The highlight of the Dussehra celebrations in Delhi is the burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran, and Meghanath on the festival’s final day. This event is followed by a breathtaking fireworks display. Notable places to visit in Delhi include Jantar Mantar, Red Fort, Birla Mandir, Akshardham Temple, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and ISKON Temple.

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Kota, Rajasthan

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The Kota Dussehra celebrations hold a significant position in Rajasthan, celebrated on a grand scale annually. Local residents engage in the festivities with enthusiasm, while the event also attracts a considerable number of visitors from outside, including international tourists, who come to experience the magnificent celebrations in Kota, one of the premier places to visit near Jaipur. A key highlight of the Kota Dussehra festival is the towering 75-foot effigies of the demon Ravana. Additional features of the Kota Dussehra festivities include vibrant processions and stunning portrayals of the life of Lord Rama along with other principal characters from the Ramayana. The celebrations conclude with the burning of the Ravana effigy. Villagers assemble here adorned in colorful attire to offer prayers to Lord Rama and commemorate his triumph over Ravana. Esteemed artists from across the nation are invited to take part in cultural events that captivate the large audience with their performances as part of the Rajasthan tour packages. A fair, known as the Kota Dussehra Fair, is held for a period of two weeks.

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REFERENCE

PLACES TO VISIT IN VIJAYAWADA

KULLU ATTRACTIONS

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