The ritual of Ravan Dahan, performed annually on Vijayadashami (Dussehra), carries profound religious and psychological significance. In 2026, Dussehra across Delhi will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with Ravan Dahan scheduled at major grounds just after sunset.
Religiously, it commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, symbolizing the eternal truth that righteousness (dharma) will always win over evil (adharma).
Psychologically, the ten heads of Ravana represent fundamental human vices: lust (kama), anger (krodha), delusion (moha), greed (lobha), pride (mada), envy (matsarya), selfishness (swarth), injustice (anyaya), cruelty (amanavta), and ego (ahankara). Burning the effigy serves as an annual collective catharsis—a reminder to confront and destroy the negativity within our own minds.
Below is a comprehensive guide to the 10 best places to experience the grand Ravan Dahan in Delhi.
1. Lav Kush Ramlila Ground (Red Fort Grounds)
Name of the Ground: Lal Qila Maidan
Location: Netaji Subhash Marg, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: Alight at the Lal Qila Metro Station (Violet Line) via Gate No. 4, which opens right near the venue.
Timing of Ravan Dahan: 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
Event Specialty: One of Delhi’s oldest and most high-tech productions, regularly attracting Bollywood celebrities and senior political leaders.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Massive, highly energetic family crowds. The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad stand around 80–90 feet tall with high-quality animated movements.
Eco-Friendly Details: The committee utilizes zero-emission, green firecrackers and digital laser shows to minimize air and noise pollution.
2. Shri Ram Lila Committee (Ramlila Maidan)
Name of the Ground: Ramlila Maidan
Location: Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Asaf Ali Road, near New Delhi Railway Station.
Best Way to Reach: Take the metro to New Delhi Metro Station (Yellow/Airport Line) or Delhi Gate Metro Station (Violet Line).
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan happens around 6:45 PM.
Event Specialty: Famous for its historic Ram Rajya Abhishek procession that parades through the lanes of Old Delhi before the final grand act.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Heritage explorers, traditionalists, and huge local gatherings. Features traditional 60-foot tall hand-crafted structural effigies.
Eco-Friendly Details: Employs completely bio-degradable effigy parsing methods and severe restriction on loud sound crackers.
3. Shri Dharmik Leela Committee (Subhash Maidan)
Name of the Ground: Subhash Maidan (Parade Ground)
Location: Opposite Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: Chandni Chowk Metro Station (Yellow Line) or Lal Qila Metro Station (Violet Line) are within short walking distance.
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan happens between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM.
Event Specialty: Holds a legacy stretching back over a century, retaining a purist, royal heritage storytelling tone.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Families and heritage enthusiasts. Features majestic 70-foot effigies with vibrant traditional clothing design.
Eco-Friendly Details: The committee defaults strictly to eco-friendly soundless sparklers and green crackers certified by CSIR-NEERI.
4. Dwarka Sri Ramlila Society (Sector 10 DDA Ground)
Name of the Ground: DDA Ground Sector-10 Dwarka
Location: Near Max Hospital, Sector 10, Dwarka, New Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: Exit from Dwarka Sector 10 Metro Station (Blue Line), which sits adjacent to the ground.
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan is scheduled at 7:00 PM.
Event Specialty: Highly famous for hosting India’s tallest Ravana effigy for the 2026 season.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Suburban families and vast crowds from West Delhi. The primary Ravana effigy rises to a monumental 221 feet.
Eco-Friendly Details: Despite the massive scale, the effigy structural body uses recycled bamboo, cloth fabrics, and specialized non-smoke-emitting green crackers.
5. PU Block Ramlila Ground (Pitampura)
Name of the Ground: PU Block Ramlila Ground
Location: Block PU, Uttari Pitampura, near Netaji Subhash Place (NSP), Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: Alight at Netaji Subhash Place (NSP) Metro Station (Red/Pink Interchange Line).
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan occurs at 6:30 PM.
Event Specialty: Known for a well-managed, neat festive layout that blends carnival rides with highly systematic seating.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Elite and corporate suburban crowds, peaceful family audiences. Features precise 55-foot sleek effigies with intense mechanical eye-lighting.
Eco-Friendly Details: The committee strictly implements a zero-single-use-plastic zone inside the fair and deploys smoke-free chemical crackers.
6. Janakpuri Ramlila Ground
Name of the Ground: Ramlila Ground at Guru Gollavkar Park.
Location: Block C-5A, Janakpuri, New Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: The closest transit link is the Uttam Nagar East Metro Station or Janakpuri West Metro Station (Blue/Magenta Line).
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan happens around 7:15 PM
Event Specialty: Adapts a modern approach using massive LED backend walls, digital sound setups, and theatrical special effects.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Tech-savvy younger generations and local residential blocks. Features a 65-foot tall artistic effigy that collapses dynamically.
Eco-Friendly Details: Features an extended digital simulation mapping sequence before the actual eco-firecracker burning to limit smoke output.
7. Shri Ram Dharmik Leela Committee (Keshav Puram)
Name of the Ground: Ramlila Maidan Keshav Puram.
Location: Keshav Puram, Tri Nagar area, North Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: Keshav Puram Metro Station (Red Line) provides direct accessibility.
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan happens at 6:30 PM.
Event Specialty: Retains an authentic, community-centric environment focusing heavily on classical music and poetic Ramayana dialogues.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Close-knit communities and local families. Traditional 50-foot effigies crafted meticulously by seasoned regional artisan blocks.
Eco-Friendly Details: Employs completely natural organic paint pigments on the effigy structures and low-decibel green crackers.
8. Paschim Vihar Ramlila Ground
Name of the Ground: Dussehra Ground (Bhera Enclave)
Location: Bhera Enclave, Paschim Vihar, West Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: Use the Paschim Vihar West Metro Station (Green Line).
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan happens around 7:00 PM.
Event Specialty: Renowned for its huge open food court showcasing typical Chandni Chowk street food alongside multi-tier amusement swings.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Heavy festive crowd, foodies, and children. Features beautiful 60-foot tall effigies equipped with bright electric neon trims.
Eco-Friendly Details: Strict organic waste segregation system enforced throughout the food stalls; minimal smoke cracker pellets used.
9. Dussehra Ground (Mukherjee Nagar)
Name of the Ground: Mukherjee Nagar Dussehra Ground
Location: Commercial Complex Area, Mukherjee Nagar, North Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: GTB Nagar Metro Station (Yellow Line) followed by a short auto-rickshaw ride.
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan happens at 7:00 PM.
Event Specialty: Celebrated for its energetic street theatrical acts and highly expressive dialogue delivery by local drama academies.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: Massive student population mixed with local North Delhi families. A towering 75-foot Ravana effigy packed with heavy mechanical sparks.
Eco-Friendly Details: Implements digital soundscapes instead of high-decibel explosive crackers to prevent heavy noise accumulation in residential areas.
10. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Grounds
Name of the Ground: JLN Stadium Open Area Grounds.
Location: Bhishma Pitamah Marg, Pragati Vihar, South Delhi.
Best Way to Reach: Take the metro directly to JLN Stadium Metro Station (Violet Line).
Timing of Ravan Dahan: Dahan happens at 7:30 PM.
Event Specialty: Favored heavily by people looking for a highly secure, spacious environment that avoids the congested lanes of Old Delhi.
Crowd Type & Effigy Details: South Delhi families and working professionals. Large 70-foot effigies with a spectacular backdrop of highly planned colorful sky-lantern releases.
Eco-Friendly Details: Focuses on premium electric spark animations and compressed air-fired colors rather than sulfur-based crackers.
The burning of the towering effigies is not just a standalone event; it is the ultimate culmination of the 10-day Ramlila theatrical journey. Every night leading up to Dussehra, these grounds across Delhi transform into open-air stages, breathing life into ancient verses through captivating performances, elaborate costumes, and emotional dialogue delivery.
When the final arrow leaves Lord Rama's bow on the evening of Vijayadashami, the sudden burst of light from the burning effigies marks the resolution of this grand epic. As the ashes settle and the cheers of the crowd echo through the autumn air, the message of the Ramlila is deeply renewed—inspiring everyone to carry the light of truth, virtue, and compassion back into their daily lives.
