Delhi Ramlila 2026: Red Fort Grounds, Ramlila Maidan, Ravan Dahan and Vijay Muhurat for New Delhi

Quick answer: Delhi's Ramlilas run through Navratri (Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026) and end with Ravan Dahan on Dussehra, Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Drik Panchang). The grounds near the Red Fort (Lal Quila) and Ramlila Maidan are traditionally among the best-known venues, alongside hundreds of neighbourhood stages. The Vijay Muhurat for New Delhi is 1:59 to 2:45 PM; the effigies burn after sunset. Schedules and firecracker rules are announced each year, so check before you go.

Delhi Ramlila 2026 at a glance

Delhi's Ramlila tradition

Ramlila, the staged retelling of the Ramayana, is the soul of Dussehra in Delhi. The city's Ramlilas range from large productions with elaborate sets, costumes, lighting and sound to small colony performances where residents play Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman and Ravana for their neighbours. Most draw on Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas and the popular Radheshyam Ramayan, and audiences come back night after night as the story moves from Rama's birth to exile, Sita's abduction, the search, the battle of Lanka and the final victory.

Delhi's tradition is long. As commonly told, public Ramlilas in Old Delhi go back to the nineteenth century or earlier, and some of the city's committees trace their histories back many decades. In 2008 UNESCO inscribed "Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana" on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising the tradition that Delhi's stages are part of. For background, see Ramlila: a vibrant retelling of the Ramayana.

Near the Red Fort (Lal Quila)

The open grounds near the Red Fort in Old Delhi have long hosted some of the city's best-known Ramlilas. Against the backdrop of the Mughal fort and the busy lanes of Chandni Chowk, these productions are known for large stages, big casts and grand battle scenes, and they culminate in Ravan Dahan on Dussehra evening. Over the years, well-known public figures and political leaders have often attended the Dussehra evenings at Delhi's major Ramlilas.

More than one committee stages a Ramlila in the Red Fort area, and arrangements change from year to year, so check the committee announcements for 2026 if you plan to go.

Ramlila Maidan

Ramlila Maidan, the large ground between Old Delhi and New Delhi near Delhi Gate and Ajmeri Gate, takes its name from the Ramlila traditionally staged there. Today it is also known as a venue for public meetings and rallies, but in the Navratri season it returns to its original purpose, with a long-running Ramlila and Ravan Dahan on Dussehra.

Ravan Dahan on Dussehra

On Dussehra evening, Tuesday 20 October 2026, Ramlilas across Delhi end with Ravan Dahan: tall effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghnad are set alight after the actor playing Rama shoots a flaming arrow. The burning symbolises the victory of good over evil, and of humility over the pride, greed and anger that Ravana's ten heads are often said to represent. Read why we burn Ravana and see the Ravan Dahan 2026 city-wise guide.

Delhi's effigy makers are a story in themselves. In the weeks before Dussehra, workshops in west Delhi, especially around the Titarpur and Tagore Garden area, are known for building effigies of every size for Ramlilas across the city and beyond.

Vijay Muhurat and home rituals

The Vijay Muhurat for New Delhi on Tuesday 20 October 2026 is 1:59 to 2:45 PM local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Families use it for:

• Shami Puja: prayers at the Shami tree, linked with the Pandavas hiding their weapons in it during their year in disguise.
• Aparajita Puja: worship of the unconquerable Goddess for success in the year ahead.
• Shastra and Ayudha Puja: worship of tools, vehicles, books and instruments of work.
• Starting new things: many families buy vehicles, begin projects or make investments on Vijayadashami.

For the step-by-step ritual, see the Vijayadashami pooja guide. For NCR cities, Gurugram's Vijay Muhurat is 2:00 to 2:45 PM and Faridabad's 1:59 to 2:44 PM.

Family tips: crowds, metro and air quality

• Go early and plan your exit. Big Ramlila grounds fill up well before the effigies are lit, and leaving afterwards can take a long time.
• Use the metro. Stations in and around Old Delhi, such as Lal Quila and Delhi Gate, serve the Red Fort area and Ramlila Maidan. Expect crowd control, gate closures or diversions on Dussehra evening and check Delhi Metro advisories.
• Check traffic advisories. Delhi Traffic Police usually issue advisories for the main Ramlila areas around Dussehra.
• Keep children close. Agree a meeting point, put a phone number in a child's pocket and stay away from the barricades nearest the effigies.
• Air quality and firecrackers. Delhi's rules on firecrackers have changed from year to year because of pollution concerns, and late October often sees poor air. Check current government and court orders for 2026, carry masks for children and elders with breathing problems, and consider a neighbourhood Ramlila closer to home.
• Security checks. Large venues have bag checks; travel light.

Durga Puja and Navratri in Delhi

Navratri in Delhi also means Durga Puja pandals, especially in Chittaranjan Park and other areas with Bengali communities, fasting and Kanya Pujan at home (Ashtami and Navami both on Monday 19 October 2026 in India), and crowds at Devi temples such as Jhandewalan and Kalkaji. See the Dussehra 2026 Delhi guide for more.

For Delhi families abroad

If you grew up with Delhi's Ramlila, you will find many temples and associations abroad staging short Ramlilas and Ravan Dahan around Dussehra, often on the nearest weekend. Use a panchang for your own city for the muhurat; New Delhi's times do not apply abroad. See the Dussehra 2026 USA guide and the Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is Ravan Dahan in Delhi in 2026?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Drik Panchang), and Ravan Dahan is held that evening after sunset at Ramlila grounds across Delhi. Exact timings are set by each Ramlila committee, so check their announcements.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in New Delhi on Dussehra 2026?

The Vijay Muhurat for New Delhi on Tuesday 20 October 2026 is 1:59 to 2:45 PM local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. It is the traditional window for Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Shastra Puja; the effigies are burned later, after sunset.

Where are the best-known Ramlilas in Delhi?

The grounds near the Red Fort (Lal Quila) in Old Delhi and Ramlila Maidan, between Old and New Delhi, are traditionally among the best-known venues, with long-running Ramlilas staged there for decades. Many neighbourhood committees across Delhi and the NCR also stage their own.

When do Delhi's Ramlilas start?

Most Ramlilas in Delhi run through the nights of Navratri, which in 2026 is Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October, and end with Ravan Dahan on Dussehra. Some start a day or two earlier. Each committee announces its own schedule.

Are firecrackers allowed at Ravan Dahan in Delhi?

Rules on firecrackers in Delhi are set by the government, courts and pollution control authorities, and they have changed from year to year because of air-quality concerns. Check the current orders for 2026; effigies and celebrations must follow whatever restrictions apply.

How do I reach the Red Fort and Ramlila Maidan by metro?

Both areas are served by Delhi Metro stations in and around Old Delhi, such as Lal Quila and Delhi Gate. Expect heavy crowds and possible gate closures or diversions on Dussehra evening, and check Delhi Metro and Delhi Traffic Police advisories before travelling.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

This guide was written in October 2026. Dates and Vijay Muhurat timings are from Drik Panchang calculations for India. The Ramlila history is given as commonly told. We do not name organisers or list schedules, timings, entry arrangements or crowd figures, which change each year; check the committees, Delhi Metro, Delhi Traffic Police and current firecracker orders before you go.

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• Ravan Dahan 2026: date and city-wise timing
• Ramnagar Ramlila, Varanasi
• Dussehra 2026 in Haryana
• Garba 2026 in Delhi NCR