Marich मारीच
The shape-shifter who became the golden deer and lured Ram away, setting Sita’s abduction in motion. Built by the Marich Putla Samiti.
ALMORA · UTTARAKHAND · VIJAYADASHAMI
Almora DussehraThe night a whole Ravan family burns.
Most towns burn Ravan. Almora builds his entire family, parades them through the bazaar all afternoon, and sets them alight one by one after dark. This is what we saw on 20 October 2026, and how to plan for next year.
- 23effigies in 2026
- ~166years of the tradition, by local accounts
- Ravanburns last, close to midnight
- 9 Oct 2027next Vijayadashami
WHY ALMORA IS DIFFERENT
Not one demon king. His whole household.
For a century and more, Almora burned only Ravan. In the mid-1970s one mohalla built a Meghnad to stand beside him, and the idea spread: other neighbourhoods took on Kumbhakaran, Tadka, Ravan’s sons, his generals and the demons of the Ramayana. Today almost every part of town has a committee that builds its own character, often the same one year after year.
Each effigy is an iron frame dressed in paper pulp, cardboard and paint, and takes its committee about a month of evenings. On Dussehra the finished giants are carried down to the bazaar with bands and dhol, then out to the ground where they are burned in the order of the Ramlila story: Tadka first, Ravan last.
MEET FIVE OF 2026’S GIANTS
Names read from the committees’ own boards.
Khar खर
Ravan’s brother and lord of Janasthan. In the Ramayana, Ram defeats him, Dushan and an army of 14,000 single-handed. Built by the Khar Putla Yuva Samiti.
Akshay Kumar अक्षय कुमार
Yes, really. Ravan’s youngest son shares the actor’s name; he falls to Hanuman in the Ashok Vatika. From Karkhana Bazaar.
Atikaya अतिकाय
His name means “huge body”. Lakshman finally brings him down with the Brahmastra.
Makarasur मकरासुर
Rajpura’s entry, and the only one who brought a mount: a snarling black beast that drew a queue of children for selfies.
HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED
Dussehra 2026, hour by hour.
Times are from the timestamps on our own photos and video. Organisers set the schedule each year, so treat these as a guide, not a timetable.
The giants gather in the bazaar
From around 4:30 pm the effigies stood above packed crowds at Milan Chowk. People lined the railings and steps; every wide shot we took had a dozen crowned heads in it.
The procession and golden hour
Bands, dhol and the devta palki move slowly through the narrow lanes. The low sun lights the painted faces; this is the best light for photos.
The last march
After dark the lit-up effigies are carried towards the burning ground at the SSJ University campus, near the stadium.
Fireworks over the ground
Fireworks started a little after 11 and kept going in bursts while the crowd filled the ground.
Ravan Dahan
The first effigies caught fire at about 11:45. The family went one by one, and Ravan stood alone until the very end, going up around midnight.
WHAT WE’D TELL A FRIEND
Tips from the crowd.
Arrive at the bazaar early
The best spots along Milan Chowk’s railings and steps fill by mid-afternoon. Come after lunch and stay put.
Shoot at golden hour
Between 5 and 6 pm the sun hits the effigies’ faces. After dark, phone cameras struggle with flames and floodlights; hold steady and shoot short videos.
Pace yourself for midnight
The big moment is late. Eat in the evening, carry water, and charge a power bank; you will be on your feet for most of the night.
Bring a warm layer
October nights in the hills turn cold quickly once you are standing still on the ground.
Mind the crowd and smoke
Keep children close, agree a meeting point, and keep valuables in a front pocket. Stand upwind of the effigies; the smoke is thick. Anyone with asthma should keep well back.
Walk, don’t drive
The bazaar lanes are packed on foot all day and the roads near the ground jam late at night. Park early and walk, or stay within walking distance.
PLAN FOR 2027
Vijayadashami falls on Saturday, 9 October 2027.
Getting there. The nearest railhead is Kathgodam, about 90 km and roughly three hours by road; Pantnagar is the nearest airport. Shared taxis and buses run from Haldwani and Kathgodam.
Where to stay. Rooms in town go early for Dussehra weekend. Staying in Almora itself means you can walk back after the Dahan instead of queuing for a taxi at midnight. Milan Heights, a RoamWise stay, is right on Milan Chowk, where the effigies gather.
Make it a long weekend. Pair the festival with a quiet morning at Kasar Devi, the deodar temples of Jageshwar, or Kainchi Dham on the way up.
Stay in Almora for Dussehra
Signed RoamWise homestays and hotels, booked directly on WhatsApp.
See Almora stays Plan the trip in RoamWiseWATCH
Rave to Hell × Almora Dussehra
The whole day and night, from the bazaar to the Ravan Dahan, cut into a five-minute film to Mohit Pandey’s track Rave to Hell, all shot on a phone in Almora.
Watch on YouTube @mohucool ↗QUESTIONS
Almora Dussehra, answered.
When is Almora Dussehra in 2027?
On Vijayadashami, Saturday 9 October 2027. The procession runs through the afternoon and the effigies burn late that night. Exact local timings are set by the organisers; check closer to the date.
Where are the effigies burned?
In 2026 they were burned at the SSJ University campus ground near the stadium, after the procession through the bazaar. Confirm the venue locally each year.
How many effigies are there?
Local reports counted 23 in 2026, with Ahiravan, king of Patal Lok, among the newer characters. The number changes as mohalla committees join or skip a year.
Is it free to watch?
Yes. It is a public, community-run festival in the town’s streets and grounds. No ticket is needed.
Is it suitable for children?
The afternoon procession is a joy for children. The night burning is very crowded, loud and smoky, so keep small children close and at the edge of the crowd.
Sources and verification
Times, effigy names and photographs are first-hand, from our visit on 20 October 2026; names were read from the committees’ boards. History and counts are from the sources below. Checked 26 October 2026. Spot an error? Tell us.
- Ministry of Tourism, Utsav: Dussehra festival: effigies handcrafted across Almora’s mohallas.
- Curly Tales: why Almora burns Ravan’s entire family: Meghnad first built in the mid-1970s; characters in the tradition.
- Uttaranews, The India Daily and PrimeTV India reports (October 2026): 23 effigies in 2026, Ahiravan among the newer characters, burn order and the SSJ campus ground.
- Drik Panchang: Vijayadashami 2027: 9 October 2027.
How RoamWise researches and corrects pages. RoamWise is independent and not affiliated with the organising committees or the district administration.