Desk Report
Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is being celebrated on 20 October. On this festival, which symbolises the victory of good over evil, effigies of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran will be burnt across the country. Here is a special report on when and where Ravan Dahan will take place in Madhya Pradesh’s major cities and Delhi.
What is the right time for Ravan Dahan
Note — Vijay Muhurat (1:59 PM to 2:45 PM) is for Shastra Puja and Aparajita Puja, not for Ravan Dahan. As per tradition, Ravan Dahan takes place after sunset during the Pradosh period. On 20 October, sunset will be around 5:47–5:55 PM depending on the city.
Indore — 7 PM, 111-ft Ravan
At Indore’s Dussehra Maidan, the main Ravan Dahan will take place at 7 PM. A 111-ft-tall Ravan and a 250-ft-long Lanka have been built here. Before the burning, tableaux of Ram and Hanuman will be taken out and the Ram-Ravan battle will be staged. The Khera agency of the Gera family has been doing free fireworks here for 50 years.
Bhopal — Bittan Market Dussehra Maidan
At Bhopal’s Bittan Market Dussehra Maidan, the 48th Dussehra festival will be celebrated. A 53-ft Ravan and 51-ft Meghnad-Kumbhkaran effigies are ready here. The exact time has not been announced yet — the tradition is to burn the effigies in the Pradosh period after sunset.
Jabalpur — Punjabi Dussehra celebrated a day early
Jabalpur’s 74th Punjabi Dussehra festival was celebrated on 19 October itself — a day before Dussehra. The programme began at 5:30 PM at the Government Ayurvedic College campus in Gwarighat, where the 75-ft Ravan-Kumbhkaran effigies were burnt. The procession included horsemen, the Dul dul horse and Dandiya performers.
Gwalior — 80th festival at Phoolbagh Maidan
Gwalior’s Phoolbagh Maidan will host the 80th Vijayadashami festival — a 60-ft Ravan and 55-ft Kumbhkaran-Meghnad effigies are ready here. In DD Nagar a 65-ft effigy is ready, and at the new Dussehra Maidan in Shatabdipuram another 65-ft Ravan has been built. The exact time has not been announced.
Ujjain — Dussehra Maidan, Freeganj
At Ujjain’s Dussehra Maidan (Freeganj), the Mahakal Dussehra procession, Shami Puja and Vijayadashami programmes will be held. An effigy of about 121 ft is ready in Shastri Nagar. The exact time has not been announced.
Delhi — 221-ft Ravan and a 30-ft cockroach!
Delhi has several special events this time:
- Dwarka Sector 10: A 221-ft-tall Ravan — the main attraction
- Pitampura: The Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee will burn a 30-ft cockroach along with Ravan — with a Swachh Bharat message
- Lav-Kush Ramlila: Traditional celebrations at the Red Fort Maidan
Sunset in Delhi will be at 5:47 PM, after which the effigies will be burnt at various maidans.
Note: Official announcements of exact timings are awaited in most cities — organisers fix the time in the Pradosh period after sunset. Indore’s 7 PM time has been announced.
Photo: Ravan Dahan (symbolic image) — Source: Wikimedia Commons
Disclaimer: This story has been prepared on the basis of available sources and verification. Event timings may change — please confirm with local organisers.
