Patna Dussehra 2026: Ravan Vadh at Gandhi Maidan, Durga Puja Pandals and Vijay Muhurat

Quick answer: Patna celebrates Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Drik Panchang). The city's main Dussehra event is the Ravan Vadh at Gandhi Maidan that evening, after a week of Durga Puja pandals across the city during Navratri (Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October; Ashtami and Navami both on Monday 19 October in India). The Vijay Muhurat for Patna is 1:28 to 2:14 PM. Timings and arrangements are announced by the organisers and the district administration.

Patna Dussehra 2026 at a glance

Ravan Vadh at Gandhi Maidan

Gandhi Maidan, the great open ground in the heart of Patna beside the Ganga, is the setting for the city's main Dussehra event. On Vijayadashami evening, tall effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are set up on the ground, a Ramlila enactment of the final battle is performed, and the figures are set alight to cheers and fireworks. In Bihar the event is commonly called Ravan Vadh (the slaying of Ravana) as well as Ravan Dahan.

The Gandhi Maidan Ravan Vadh has been held for decades and is a fixture of Patna's calendar. It is often attended by state dignitaries, and families come from across the city to watch. Smaller Ravan Vadh events are held in localities and towns throughout Bihar on the same evening.

Because of the size of the gathering, the district administration sets the entry, exit and traffic arrangements each year. After a crowd crush near Gandhi Maidan following the Dussehra event in 2014, crowd management at the ground has received close attention; follow police instructions, especially when leaving. For the meaning of the ritual, read why we burn Ravana and see the Ravan Dahan 2026 city-wise guide.

Durga Puja pandals across Patna and Bihar

If Gandhi Maidan is Dussehra's climax, Durga Puja is the heart of Navratri in Patna. Puja committees across the city set up pandals with images of Goddess Durga slaying Mahishasura, flanked by Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Some pandals are known for themed designs modelled on temples or famous buildings, others for lighting, and many for their traditional images and rituals. The pandal-hopping crowds peak on the nights of Saptami, Ashtami and Navami.

Several areas of central Patna are known for clusters of popular pandals, and Bengali associations in the city keep Kolkata-style pujas with the dhak, dhunuchi dance and Sindoor Khela on Bijoya Dashami. Across Bihar, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur and other towns have their own famous pujas and fairs.

Inside homes, Navratri in Bihar means Kalash Sthapana, daily Durga Saptashati path, fasting, and honouring young girls in Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami. In 2026, with both falling on Monday 19 October in India, many families will do the Ashtami fast, Kanya Pujan and Navami havan around that day. See the Kanya Pujan 2026 guide.

Navratri in Mithila and the rest of Bihar

In Mithila (north Bihar), Durga Puja is an important household and community festival, and many families follow the Mithila panchang for Navratri dates. As commonly practised in many homes there, barley shoots (jayanti) sown at the start of Navratri are offered to the Goddess and shared as a blessing on Vijayadashami.

Vijay Muhurat 2026 for Bihar cities

The Vijay Muhurat is the most auspicious window of Vijayadashami afternoon, used for Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja, Shastra Puja and starting new ventures. Local time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method:

The Ravan Vadh is held after sunset, not during the Vijay Muhurat. For more on the state, see the Dussehra 2026 Bihar guide and the Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Tips for families in Patna

• Go to Gandhi Maidan early and decide your exit route in advance; leaving after the effigies burn is the most crowded moment.
• Expect traffic diversions around Gandhi Maidan and the main pandal areas; check the district administration's and traffic police advisories.
• Keep children close, put a phone number in their pocket and avoid pushing near gates.
• Pandal-hop late at night only in groups, and use well-lit main roads.
• For a calmer experience with small children, watch a neighbourhood Ravan Vadh or visit pandals in the afternoon.

For Bihari families abroad

Bihari families abroad often keep Navratri with Kalash Sthapana and Durga Saptashati path at home, and join community Durga Puja and Dussehra celebrations, usually on the nearest weekend. Use a panchang for your own city for any muhurat; Patna's timings do not apply abroad. Dates outside India can also differ: Drik Panchang lists Durga Ashtami on 18 October and Maha Navami on 19 October in the USA, Canada and the UK. See the Dussehra 2026 USA guide and the Navratri 2026 NRI guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is Ravan Vadh at Gandhi Maidan in 2026?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Drik Panchang), and the Ravan Vadh at Gandhi Maidan is traditionally held on Dussehra evening. Timings, entry and traffic arrangements are announced by the organisers and the district administration, so check official announcements.

What is the Vijay Muhurat for Patna on Dussehra 2026?

The Vijay Muhurat for Patna on Tuesday 20 October 2026 is 1:28 to 2:14 PM local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method.

When are Durga Ashtami and Navami in Patna in 2026?

In India, Drik Panchang places both Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami on Monday 19 October 2026, because Saptami prevails at sunrise on both 17 and 18 October. Many Bihar households follow the Mithila or another local panchang, and Bengali-run pujas follow the Bengali panjika, so check your committee's or priest's calendar.

When is Durga Puja immersion in Patna in 2026?

Most pujas hold immersion on or after Vijayadashami, but the exact day and time are set by each puja committee and the local administration. Committees following the Bengali panjika observe Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October 2026.

Which effigies are burned at Gandhi Maidan?

As at most North Indian Ravan Dahan events, effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghnad are set alight, usually after a Ramlila enactment of the final battle.

Is Gandhi Maidan safe for children on Dussehra?

It draws very large crowds, so families should go early, stay away from the gates at exit time, keep children close and follow police instructions. Watching a smaller local Ravan Vadh is a good alternative with small children.

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 Bijoya Dashami date is from its Bengal-tradition calendar. The Gandhi Maidan Ravan Vadh is described in general terms; we do not list timings, entry arrangements, organisers or crowd figures, which are announced each year by the organisers and the Patna district administration.

Related guides

• Dussehra 2026 in Bihar
• Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata: Mahalaya to Sindoor Khela
• Dussehra 2026 in Jharkhand
• Ravan Dahan 2026: date and city-wise timing
• Cuttack Durga Puja 2026: silver chandi medha