# Dussehra in Dharamshala 2026 at the Police Ground: Ravan Dahan, Mela, Fireworks and Music Nights

> Dharamshala Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday 20 October. The district mela runs 18 to 24 October at the Police Ground in lower Dharamshala, with Lanka and Akshay burnt on 19 October and Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran on 20 October, plus fireworks, stalls and rides. Here is what happens each day, what is not yet announced (singers included) and how to visit.

- **URL:** https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/dharamshala-dussehra-police-ground
- **Category:** Festivals
- **Published:** 2026-10-18
- **Updated:** 2026-10-24
- **Author:** Dharamshala Stay Team
- **Image:** https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/ravan-dahan-crowd.jpg (Crowd filming as Dussehra effigies go up in flames with fireworks at night)

**Short answer:** Dussehra in Dharamshala 2026 is on **Tuesday 20 October**. The district-level Dussehra mela runs from **18 to 24 October 2026** at the **Police Ground (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Police Ground)** in Jawahar Nagar, lower Dharamshala. The Lanka and Akshay effigies are burnt on **19 October**, and Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran go up in flames on **20 October**, with fireworks as the main attraction. As of 18 October, **no singer line-up for the 2026 Dussehra has been published**, so check local news on the day.

![Crowds filming as Dussehra effigies burn with fireworks at night (photo location not stated, not Dharamshala 2026)](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/ravan-dahan-crowd.jpg)

Every October the parade ground below the town turns into a fairground. Tall bamboo effigies go up on one side, giant wheels and food stalls on the other, and on Vijayadashami night a sea of phones points at the sky as Ravan burns. This guide covers the **Dharamshala Dussehra 2026** dates, the Ravan dahan schedule, where the ground is, what we know (and do not know) about music nights, and how it compares with the far bigger Kullu Dussehra.

Planning the whole season? See our [festivals and events calendar](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/festivals-events-calendar-dharamshala), the [Ramlila in Dharamshala guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/ramlila-in-dharamshala) and [Dharamshala in October and November](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/dharamshala-in-october-november).

## Dharamshala Dussehra 2026: Quick Facts

| | |
|---|---|
| **Dussehra (Vijayadashami) date** | Tuesday 20 October 2026 |
| **Navratri** | 11 to 19 October 2026 |
| **Dussehra mela dates** | 18 to 24 October 2026 |
| **Venue** | Police Ground (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Police Ground), Police Line, Jawahar Nagar, lower Dharamshala |
| **Organised by** | District administration, Kangra, and the mela committee |
| **19 October** | Lanka and Akshay effigies burnt |
| **20 October** | Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran effigies burnt, with fireworks |
| **Ravan dahan time** | Not officially announced; traditionally after sunset. Check locally |
| **Entry fee** | No fee published; rides and stalls are paid |
| **Singers / music nights** | No 2026 line-up published as of 18 October |
| **From McLeod Ganj** | About 9 km, roughly 30 minutes by taxi |
| **Weather** | Nights around 12 to 15 C; carry a jacket |

## When is Dussehra in Dharamshala 2026? (Dussehra kab hai?)

**Dussehra 2026 is on Tuesday 20 October 2026**, according to Drik Panchang and Amar Ujala. Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October, and Vijayadashami follows on the tenth day. So if you are searching "Dussehra in Dharamshala kab hai", the answer is **20 October 2026 (Tuesday)**.

The Dharamshala mela is longer than the festival itself. The district administration has fixed it for **18 to 24 October 2026**, a full week of stalls and rides, with the two effigy-burning nights on **19 and 20 October**. A 15 October report from the ground also described 19 and 20 October as the main mela days, so expect the biggest crowds then.

## Where is the Police Ground in Dharamshala?

The **Police Ground**, officially the **Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Police Ground**, is at **Police Line, Jawahar Nagar, in lower Dharamshala** (coordinates 32°10'35"N 76°18'28"E, as listed by the Kangra district administration, which also uses it as a helipad). It is the town's main parade ground, the same open field that hosts the district Republic Day and Himachal Day functions.

It is in the lower town, not up in McLeod Ganj. **Dharamshala town to McLeod Ganj is about 9 km, roughly 30 minutes by taxi**, so if you are staying up the hill, plan your ride down and, more importantly, your ride back after the fireworks. Our [taxi page](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/taxi) can help you book a return in advance. The HPCA cricket ground is also in Jawahar Nagar, so see the [Dharamshala stadium timings](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/hpca-cricket-stadium-guide) if you want to add it to the same trip.

One quirk worth knowing: according to Divya Himachal, the **permanent stage at the Police Ground has been incomplete for about 15 years**. Big events, including the district Dussehra, use rented tents and a temporary stage. Do not expect a grand amphitheatre; expect a big open field, a makeshift stage and a lot of atmosphere.

## What happens each day at the Dussehra mela?

The ground is split in two. According to Amar Ujala, **half the ground is tendered out for the mela** (stalls, swings and rides) and **half is kept for the Dussehra programmes**. Last year the tender fetched **about Rs 15 lakh**, and whether a **laser show** like last year's returns depends on how much this year's tender brings in. Officials have called it "possible", not confirmed.

**18 October (Sunday): mela opens.** Stalls, food and rides start. Traders have been setting up since 15 October, after heavy rain that day left the ground muddy, so wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty.

**19 October (Monday): Lanka and Akshay burn.** The first effigy night: the Lanka (the golden city of Ravan) and Akshay Kumar (Ravan's son, killed by Hanuman in the Ramayana) effigies are set alight. A good night to go if you want the spectacle with a slightly smaller crowd.

**20 October (Tuesday, Vijayadashami): Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran.** The big night. The three main effigies, Ravan with his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnad, are burnt, and **fireworks are the main attraction**. The exact time has not been announced; by tradition the burning happens after sunset.

**21 to 24 October: mela continues.** Stalls and rides carry on until the 24th, usually calmer and better for families with small children.

![Three tall Dussehra effigies standing ready before Ravan dahan (photo location not stated, not Dharamshala)](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/dussehra-effigies.jpg)

### Who builds the effigies?

This year about **25 artisans from Haryana**, working for the contractor **Mangal Sain & Sons** on a **Rs 4 lakh contract**, built all five effigies: Lanka, Akshay, Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran. They used **dry bamboo brought from Haryana**. No official heights have been published, so treat any figure you see on social media with caution.

SDM Dharamshala **Mohit Ratn** has been quoted on the preparations for the district-level mela.

## Are there music nights at Dharamshala Dussehra? Which singers are coming?

Cultural evenings are a long tradition at the district Dussehra. In 2015 the Dussehra Utsav Samiti, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, held cultural evenings, and the 2016 district Dussehra mela at the Police Ground featured folk and band performances.

**But for 2026, no singer line-up has been published as of 18 October**, and we could not find Dussehra-specific singer names for 2023, 2024 or 2025 either. If someone tells you a big star is performing at the Dussehra, ask where they read it. Check Amar Ujala, Divya Himachal or the district administration, Kangra on the day.

### The "star nights" people remember are the Kangra Valley Carnival

The big-name **star nights at the Police Ground belong to the Kangra Valley Carnival**, a separate event, not the Dussehra mela. The 2026 carnival is announced for 24-31 December: see our [Kangra Valley Carnival 2026 guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/kangra-valley-carnival-2026). Two examples:

- **Kangra Valley Carnival 2024:** the star night featured Punjabi singer **Rashmeet Kaur**, Pahari folk singer **Ishant Bhardwaj**, **RJ Shanky** and **Anuj Sharma**, with **Satinder Sartaaj** and the Kerala band **Thaikkudam Bridge** billed for the following night (ETV Bharat).
- **Kangra Valley Carnival 2025:** Punjabi singer **Garry Sandhu** and **Ishant Bhardwaj** performed (ETV Bharat).

So if you are searching "Dharamshala Dussehra star night singers", the honest answer is that the famous star nights are carnival nights. Any Dussehra stage programme will be announced locally.

## Is there Ramlila in Dharamshala during Navratri?

Yes. An **18-year-old Ramlila at the Dari Mela Ground**, Dharamshala, began on **12 October 2026** and runs through Navratri, building up to Dussehra. It is a lovely, local way to see the story that ends with the effigies burning. Read our [Ramlila in Dharamshala guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/ramlila-in-dharamshala) for more.

## Tips for visiting the Dharamshala Dussehra mela

- **Go on 19 October if you hate crowds**, and 20 October if you want the full show. Both are effigy nights.
- **Arrive before sunset.** The burning traditionally starts after dark, but the best spots near the effigy area fill early.
- **Carry a jacket.** October nights in Dharamshala are about **12 to 15 C**, and the open ground gets cold once the sun goes.
- **Wear sturdy shoes.** The ground was muddy after rain on 15 October; more rain would make it worse.
- **Keep a safe distance from the effigies.** Fireworks and burning bamboo throw sparks; follow police and volunteer instructions.
- **Bring cash for rides and stalls.** There is no published entry fee, but rides and stalls are paid.
- **Parking and traffic:** no diversion plan has been published yet. Expect congestion around Police Line and Jawahar Nagar on 19 and 20 October and check with Kangra police or your hotel on the day. Taking a taxi is easier than driving yourself.
- **Book your return ride.** If you are staying in McLeod Ganj, Bhagsu or Dharamkot, arrange a [taxi](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/taxi) back before the fireworks end.

## Dharamshala Dussehra vs Kullu Dussehra: what is the difference?

They are very different festivals.

- **Dharamshala (Kangra district) Dussehra** follows the North Indian pattern: Ramlila, Ravan dahan on Vijayadashami, fireworks and a week-long mela at the Police Ground.
- **Kullu Dussehra** is Himachal's most famous and much bigger. In 2026 it **runs from 21 to 27 October** (it starts the day after Dharamshala’s Ravan dahan) at Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu, where village deities are carried in processions.

![The giant wheel at the Kullu Dussehra fair (Kullu, not Dharamshala)](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/dussehra-fair-wheel.jpg)

If you want to see both, you can catch Ravan dahan in Dharamshala on 20 October and plan Kullu for the days after. For other fairs across the district, see our [guide to melas and fairs in Dharamshala and Kangra](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/melas-fairs-dharamshala-kangra).

## Where to stay for Dussehra in Dharamshala

For easy access to the Police Ground, stay in **lower Dharamshala**, the part of town where the ground is. If you prefer the cafés, monasteries and cooler air of **McLeod Ganj**, it is about 9 km up the hill, roughly 30 minutes by taxi, so plan your return late on 20 October.

Browse rooms on our [Dharamshala hotels page](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/hotels) or read [where to stay in Dharamshala](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/where-to-stay-in-dharamshala) for a breakdown by area. Staying on into November? [Diwali in Dharamshala](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/diwali-in-dharamshala) follows soon after.

## What is confirmed and what is not

**Confirmed (from district and news reports):** Dussehra on 20 October 2026; mela 18 to 24 October at the Police Ground; Lanka and Akshay burnt on 19 October; Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran on 20 October; fireworks; five effigies built by about 25 Haryana artisans.

**Not confirmed (check locally):** the exact Ravan dahan time, parking and traffic diversions, any entry charges beyond rides and stalls, effigy heights, crowd numbers, the laser show, and any singers or stage programme.

*Last checked 18 October 2026. We will update this page if the district administration announces timings or a cultural programme.*

## FAQs

**When is Dussehra in Dharamshala in 2026?**
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The district Dussehra mela at the Police Ground in Dharamshala runs from 18 to 24 October 2026, with effigies burnt on 19 and 20 October.

**When is Ravan dahan in Dharamshala in 2026?**
Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran are burnt on Tuesday 20 October 2026 at the Police Ground, with fireworks. The Lanka and Akshay effigies are burnt a day earlier, on 19 October. No exact time has been announced; by tradition it happens after sunset, so check locally on the day.

**Where is the Dussehra mela held in Dharamshala?**
At the Police Ground (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Police Ground), Police Line, Jawahar Nagar, in lower Dharamshala. It is organised by the Kangra district administration and mela committee. McLeod Ganj is about 9 km away, roughly 30 minutes by taxi.

**Which singers are performing at Dharamshala Dussehra 2026?**
No singer line-up for the 2026 Dussehra had been published as of 18 October 2026. The well-known star nights at the Police Ground, with singers such as Rashmeet Kaur, Satinder Sartaaj and Garry Sandhu, were part of the Kangra Valley Carnival, a separate event. Check local news or the district administration for any Dussehra programme.

**Is there an entry fee for the Dharamshala Dussehra mela?**
No entry fee has been published. Rides, swings, games and food stalls at the mela are paid, so carry some cash.

**Will there be fireworks or a laser show?**
Fireworks are the main attraction on the Ravan dahan night, 20 October 2026. A laser show like last year is possible but not confirmed; officials said it depends on the money raised from the mela ground tender.

**Is Dharamshala Dussehra the same as Kullu Dussehra?**
No. Dharamshala has a district-level mela with Ravan dahan and fireworks at the Police Ground. Kullu Dussehra is much bigger, held at Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu, and centres on processions of village deities. In 2026 Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami, 21 October and runs to 27 October.

**What should I wear to the Dussehra mela in Dharamshala?**
Bring a warm jacket, as October nights in Dharamshala are around 12 to 15 C, and sturdy shoes, because the open ground turns muddy after rain.

## Sources

- [Vijayadashami 2026 date and time (Drik Panchang)](https://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/vijayadashami/vijayadashami-date-time.html?year=2026)
- [Dussehra 2026 date, Ravan dahan shubh muhurat (Amar Ujala, 16 October 2026)](https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/spirituality/festivals/dussehra-2026-date-ravan-dahan-shubh-muhurat-vijayadashami-kab-hai-2026-2026-10-16)
- [District headquarters Dussehra mela 18 to 24 October, Ravan dahan (Amar Ujala, 2 October 2026)](https://www.amarujala.com/video/himachal-pradesh/kangra/video-district-headquarters-dussehra-festival-mela-october-18-to-24-ravana-dahan-2026-10-02)
- [Dharamshala Dussehra mela preparations: 25 artisans from Haryana build effigies (Amar Ujala, 6 October 2026)](https://www.amarujala.com/video/himachal-pradesh/kangra/video-dharamshala-dussehra-mela-preparations-25-artisans-haryana-effigies-2026-10-06)
- [Rain leaves Police Ground muddy as traders set up for Dussehra mela (Amar Ujala, 15 October 2026)](https://www.amarujala.com/video/himachal-pradesh/kangra/video-dharamshala-dussehra-mela-2026-rain-police-ground-muddy-traders-2026-10-15)
- [The stage at the Police Ground has been in limbo for a decade and a half (Divya Himachal, October 2026)](https://www.divyahimachal.com/2026/10/the-truth-behind-the-four-day-moonlight-in-dharamshala-the-stage-in-the-police-ground-has-been-in-limbo-for-a-decade-and-a-half/)
- [List of helipads in District Kangra (District Administration Kangra)](https://hpkangra.nic.in/list-of-helipads-in-district-kangra/)
- [Dussehra Utsav Samiti cultural evenings, Dharamshala (MBM News Network, 2015)](https://mbmnewsnetwork.com/himachal-pradesh/24134/)
- [Sikyong attends district Dussehra mela at Dharamshala as chief guest (Central Tibetan Administration, 2016)](https://tibet.net/sikyong-attends-district-dusshera-mela-at-dharamshala-as-chief-guest/)
- [Kangra Valley Carnival 2024 star night in Dharamshala (ETV Bharat)](https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!state/kangra-valley-carnival-2024-4th-star-night-in-dharamshala-himachal-pradesh-news-hps24100200605)
- [Garry Sandhu performs at Kangra Valley Carnival 2025 (ETV Bharat)](https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/state/dharamshala-punjabi-singer-garry-sandhu-performs-at-kangra-valley-carnival-2025-himachal-pradesh-news-hps26010101890)
- [18-year-old Ramlila begins at Dari, Dharamshala (Amar Ujala, 13 October 2026)](https://www.amarujala.com/video/himachal-pradesh/kangra/video-dari-dharamshala-18-year-old-ramleela-begins-vishnu-leela-2026-10-13)

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