India's Dussehra 2026: Giant Ravanas, a 30‑Foot Cockroach and Unusual Traditions Light Up the Nation

When Dussehra rolls around, almost every Indian town and city starts thinking big – literally. This year the festival’s roster includes some truly colossal creations: massive Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad figures that scrape the sky, plus an oddly large cockroach that’s causing a stir in Delhi.

In Ayodhya, the Rajendra Niwas Ramlila Committee has rolled out a 32‑foot Ravana effigy that will be set alight at 10 p.m. The twist? The idol was crafted by Muslim artisans, a decision the committee’s patron, Prabhakar Mishra, says underscores communal harmony.

Travel north to Lucknow, where the Ramlila Maidan is hosting a 75‑foot Ravana that isn’t just big – it moves. Mechanical gears give the demon king a startling, almost lifelike presence, and organisers say the towering figure sends a message against “anti‑national” and “anti‑Sanatan” forces, as well as what they call “intellectual Naxalism”.

Over in Dehradun, the Hindu National Inter College at Laxman Chowk will see a traditional Ravana burn, with Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami slated to attend. The event is being organised by the Laxman Chowk Welfare Society, and the atmosphere promises to be charged with both devotion and fireworks.

Kashipur’s plan is straightforward yet spectacular: a 55‑foot Ravana and a 50‑foot Kumbhakarna will be torched at 7:30 p.m., followed by a cascade of fireworks that light up the night sky.

Further east, Srinagar is marking a historic first – a 50‑foot Ravana, accompanied by a 45‑foot Kumbhakarna and a 35‑foot Meghnad, will dominate the Ramlila Ground. The city’s long‑standing Dussehra celebrations are getting a new visual height, quite literally.

Not every place follows the same script. In the little village of Bhatkhedi (Ravan Wali) in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district, the locals don’t burn Ravana at all. Instead, they worship him and his brother Kumbhakarna, believing the demon king grants wishes. When prayers are answered, the villagers offer prasad and even repaint the idols, while performers as Lord Ram and Lakshman touch the statues with spears as a gesture of reverence.

Patna’s Gandhi Maidan is also gearing up for the classic Ravana Dahan ceremony, with organisers expecting a massive crowd. Meanwhile, Ranchi’s Punjabi Hindu Biradari will host the traditional burning at Morabadi Maidan, where the Governor of Jharkhand, Santosh Kumar Gangwar, is set to attend. Their three figures – 70‑foot Ravana, 65‑foot Kumbhakarna and 60‑foot Meghnad – promise an imposing sight, complemented by Ramlila performances, cultural programmes and fireworks.

Delhi, ever the capital of surprises, is preparing something wholly unexpected in its Pitampura neighbourhood: a 30‑foot cockroach effigy. While it may look a bit out of place next to the towering deities, the giant insect is part of a local tradition that aims to mock and eliminate pests, symbolically ‘burning away’ the problems they represent.

All told, Dussehra 2026 is shaping up to be a visual feast – from gigantic wooden demons to a monstrous cockroach, from reverent worship in a Madhya Pradesh hamlet to grand pyrotechnic displays in major metros. Whether you’re watching the flames dance or simply marveling at the sheer scale of the idols, the spirit of the festival – triumph of good over evil – shines brighter than ever.