Dussehra 2027
Mysuru's royal Dasara, ending with elephants in procession.
Countdown to Dussehra 2027
Dates
When is Dussehra?
Dussehra 2027 falls from Thursday, 30 September 2027 to Saturday, 9 October 2027.
Celebrations open on 30 Sep with Navratri; Vijayadashami falls on 9 Oct.
Date checked against dekhopanchang.com
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 – 20 October 2026Sun – Tue | 10 days | Past |
| 2027 | 30 September – 9 October 2027Thu – Sat | 10 days | Confirmed |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Parade & Carnival
- Tradition
- Hindu
- Where
- Mysuru, Karnataka
- Crowd
- Large crowds in Mysuru; celebrated across India
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
Dussehra is celebrated all over India, but Mysuru treats it as a state occasion. For ten nights the palace is outlined in light, and on the last day the city lines the road for a procession led by decorated elephants.
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is the tenth day after the start of Sharad Navratri. In much of north India it is the night effigies of Ravana are burned at the end of Ramlila performances. In Mysuru the festival, known as Dasara, honours Chamundeshwari, the form of Durga who is said to have killed Mahishasura on the hill that overlooks the city.
The festival here is celebrated as Karnataka's Nada Habba, or state festival. Each evening the Mysuru Palace is lit with a vast number of bulbs, and cultural programmes fill its grounds. On Vijayadashami the Jamboo Savari procession carries an image of Chamundeshwari in a golden howdah on an elephant through the city to Bannimantap, followed by a torchlight parade in the evening.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of Dussehra
Traditions
What actually happens
- Palace illumination — the Mysuru Palace and main streets are lit every evening of the festival.
- Jamboo Savari — the Vijayadashami procession of elephants, tableaux and bands.
- Panjina Kavayatthu — the torchlight parade held at Bannimantap at the close of the festival.
- Ravan Dahan — in north India, giant effigies of Ravana are burned at dusk on Vijayadashami.
Food
The table, widened
- Mysore pak — a rich gram-flour and ghee sweet traditionally linked to the palace kitchens.
- Festival plates of bisi bele bath, holige and payasa served at homes and temple halls.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Carnatic concerts and folk performances run on stages around the palace throughout the festival. The procession itself moves to police and army bands, nadaswaram players and the drum troupes of Karnataka's folk traditions.
Religion
Why this date
The day marks the victory of good over evil in two great stories: Rama's defeat of Ravana in the Ramayana, and Durga's defeat of Mahishasura. Many people also begin new ventures, worship tools and books (Ayudha Puja), or start a child's education on this day, as it is considered especially auspicious.
History
How it survived
The rulers of the Vijayanagara empire celebrated the autumn festival with great ceremony at Hampi, and the Wodeyar kings of Mysore continued the tradition from the early seventeenth century. Since Indian independence the state government has organised Mysuru Dasara. Elsewhere, the Ramlila performances that culminate on Dussehra were recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.
History
How it got here
The rulers of the Vijayanagara empire celebrated the autumn festival with great ceremony at Hampi, and the Wodeyar kings of Mysore continued the tradition from the early seventeenth century. Since Indian independence the state government has organised Mysuru Dasara. Elsewhere, the Ramlila performances that culminate on Dussehra were recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.
1500s
Vijayanagara
Hampi's kings hold Mahanavami celebrations described by visiting foreign travellers.
1610
Wodeyar Dasara
Raja Wodeyar I is traditionally credited with beginning the royal Dasara at Srirangapatna.
2008
Ramlila
UNESCO recognises the Ramlila tradition that ends with Dussehra in north India.
Today
Nada Habba
Mysuru Dasara is celebrated as Karnataka's state festival, organised by the state government.
Travel & practical
Visiting Mysuru for Dussehra
Getting there
Mysuru is roughly three hours by road or train from Bengaluru, which has the nearest major international airport.
Best vantage
Seats for the Jamboo Savari and the torchlight parade are sold or issued as passes; check the official Dasara website before travelling.
Practical notes
Hotels in Mysuru fill quickly in the final week. Staying in Bengaluru and travelling in for the main day is a common fallback.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
Dussehra: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about Dussehra.
When is Dussehra in 2026 and 2027?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and Saturday 9 October 2027. Mysuru's Dasara celebrations run for the nine nights before, from 11 October 2026 and from 30 September 2027.
Is Dussehra the same as Dasara?
Yes. Dasara is the common name in Karnataka and much of south India; Dussehra is more common in the north. Both refer to Vijayadashami.
What is the Jamboo Savari?
The main Mysuru Dasara procession on Vijayadashami, in which an elephant carries an image of the goddess Chamundeshwari through the city.
Where else is Dussehra famous?
Kullu in Himachal Pradesh holds a week-long Dussehra that begins on Vijayadashami, and Delhi and Varanasi are known for Ramlila and effigy burning.
Also in September 2027
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