Dussehra 2026: Bengal Celebrates Sindoor Khela & Visarjan

Vijayadashami celebrations highlight the victory of good over evil, while West Bengal marks Bijoya Dashami with vermilion rituals, emotional farewells and Durga idol immersions.

Festive celebrations have filled communities across India as devotees mark Dussehra 2026, also known as Vijayadashami, celebrating the triumph of good over evil. While many parts of India observed Dussehra on October 20, West Bengal is marking Bijoya Dashami on October 21, bringing the Durga Puja festivities to a traditional close. 

From Ravan Dahan ceremonies and Ramlila performances to prayers, cultural programmes and community gatherings, the festival reflects India's diverse religious and cultural traditions.

Dussehra 2026: Celebrating the Victory of Good Over Evil

Dussehra holds deep religious significance in Hindu tradition. In many parts of India, the festival commemorates Lord Rama's victory over Ravana, symbolising the triumph of righteousness over evil.

Large Ravan Dahan events, featuring the burning of effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna, are a major attraction during the celebrations. Families also visit temples, attend special prayers and participate in cultural events.

Vijayadashami is also associated with Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura, representing the power of good and the restoration of righteousness. 

West Bengal Celebrates Bijoya Dashami

In West Bengal, Vijayadashami marks an emotional farewell to Goddess Durga after several days of elaborate worship, decorated pandals and community celebrations.

Devotees gather at Durga Puja pandals to offer prayers and seek the goddess's blessings before the immersion of her idol. The occasion is known as Bijoya Dashami and is associated with family gatherings, cultural traditions and wishes for prosperity and happiness.

Kolkata's ghats and other immersion locations become important centres of activity as organisers and devotees prepare to bid farewell to the goddess. 

What Is Sindoor Khela?

One of the most recognisable traditions of Bengali Durga Puja is Sindoor Khela, a ritual performed by married women on Vijayadashami.

During the ceremony, participants traditionally offer vermilion to Goddess Durga and apply sindoor to one another. The ritual symbolises prayers for marital well-being, happiness and prosperity, while also expressing affection and solidarity among women.

The ceremony is often accompanied by festive greetings, sweets, photographs and emotional moments as devotees prepare for the goddess's departure.

Although the custom is traditionally associated with married women, practices and participation can vary between communities and individual puja celebrations.

Durga Idol Immersion Marks the End of the Festival

Following the farewell rituals, Durga idols are taken in processions for immersion, traditionally in rivers or other designated water bodies.

The immersion, known as Visarjan, symbolises the goddess's departure for her divine abode and the conclusion of the festival. Devotees often accompany the processions with devotional songs, music and chants.

In Kolkata, preparations at major immersion ghats have included attention to crowd management, public safety and the orderly conduct of rituals. 

Different Traditions, One Festive Spirit

Although Dussehra is celebrated in different ways across India, its central message remains similar: the triumph of good over evil and the importance of courage, righteousness and hope.

From Ravan Dahan in northern India to the farewell rituals of Durga Puja in Bengal, the festival brings families and communities together through faith, tradition and shared celebrations.

As Bengal concludes its Durga Puja festivities, devotees bid farewell to Goddess Durga with prayers and the hope of welcoming her again next year.

Dussehra and Bijoya Dashami reflect India's rich cultural diversity. Through Ravan Dahan, Sindoor Khela, prayers and idol immersion, communities celebrate faith, togetherness and the enduring message of victory over evil.

Festival date note: Dussehra was observed on October 20, 2026, in many parts of India, while Bengal's Bijoya Dashami falls on October 21, reflecting regional calendar observances.