Giant painted effigies of Ravan's family above the crowd at Milan Chowk, Almora, on Dussehra afternoon 2026

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.

By Mohit Pandey, Almora · Photos and video shot on the day · Updated 26 Oct 2026

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.

A row of effigies with crowns and weapons moving through Almora's bazaar under a blue sky
The procession filling the bazaar, about 5:20 pm.

MEET FIVE OF 2026’S GIANTS

Names read from the committees’ own boards.

Marich effigy, crowned and painted, above the crowd

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.

Khar effigy beside a black beast at dusk

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 effigy with a tall golden crown against the evening sky

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 effigy, a bearded giant holding a staff across his shoulders

Atikaya अतिकाय

His name means “huge body”. Lakshman finally brings him down with the Brahmastra.

Makarasur effigy riding a snarling black beast

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. The last march

    After dark the lit-up effigies are carried towards the burning ground at the SSJ University campus, near the stadium.

  4. Fireworks over the ground

    Fireworks started a little after 11 and kept going in bursts while the crowd filled the ground.

  5. 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.

An effigy engulfed in tall flames at the SSJ ground, sparks rising
Ravan Dahan
Smoke rising over the crowded burning ground under floodlights
Smoke over the ground
Fireworks bursting over the ground at night
Fireworks, about 11:07 pm
Sparks drifting through smoke above the burning effigies
The last sparks

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 RoamWise

WATCH

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.

How RoamWise researches and corrects pages. RoamWise is independent and not affiliated with the organising committees or the district administration.