Hindu Festival News October 2026: Kullu, Garba, Ayodhya

Quick answer (as of 9 October 2026): International Kullu Dussehra is expected from 21 to 27 October with 348 deities invited. Bastar Dussehra's Muria Darbar is on 23 October. Delhi's Luv Kush Ramlila at Red Fort runs 11 to 21 October. In Gujarat, GMDC Ground Garba now needs passes. Telangana's Bathukamma runs 10 to 18 October with Saddula at Tank Bund. Delhi opens a single Chhath clearance window from 15 October, and Ayodhya Deepotsav is on 7 November with a target of about 30 lakh diyas. Navratri is 11 to 19 October and Dussehra is Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Drik Panchang).

October 2026 is packed. From the deity processions of Kullu to the forest rituals of Bastar, from Ramlila stages in Delhi and Varanasi to Garba grounds in Gujarat and flower towers on Hyderabad's Tank Bund, the festival season is in full swing, with Diwali-season plans in Ayodhya and Varanasi already taking shape. Here is what has been announced, region by region, with the source and date for each item.

At a glance: October 2026 festival news

Event	Place	Date	Status
International Kullu Dussehra	Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu	21 to 27 Oct	Expected
Bastar Dussehra: Muria Darbar	Jagdalpur	23 Oct	Expected
Luv Kush Ramlila	Red Fort grounds, Delhi	11 to 21 Oct	Expected
Ramnagar Ramlila	Ramnagar, Varanasi	Began on Anant Chaturdashi	Reported
Vibrant Navratri Festival (paid passes)	GMDC Ground, Ahmedabad	11 to 20 Oct	Official
State Bathukamma festivities	Hyderabad and Telangana	10 to 18 Oct	Official
Chhath single clearance window	Delhi	From 15 Oct	Official
Ayodhya Deepotsav	Ayodhya	7 Nov	Official

Kullu Dussehra: 348 deities invited, 21 to 27 October

Status: expected. The International Kullu Dussehra will be held from 21 to 27 October 2026 at Dhalpur Maidan. The Dussehra Utsav Committee has invited 348 deities, and more than 300 are expected to take part. Three deities from Bandrol panchayat will attend for the first time since 1962: Devta Kumbar Daan Naag, Mata Fangni and Baba Veernath (Source: ETV Bharat (Hindi), 2 October 2026).

Status: official. Allotment of more than 650 plots for shops and commercial activities at Dhalpur Ground began on 5 October and runs until 10 October. The Dasehra committee chairman said plot rates will not rise this year, and the traders' operating period has been extended to 21 October to 22 November. GST on plots and temporary shops was Rs 1.31 crore in 2025 (Source: The Tribune, 5 October 2026). Background in our Kullu Dussehra 2026 guide.

Bastar Dussehra: Kachhan Gadi to Muria Darbar

Status: expected. The 75-day Bastar Dussehra began with Paat Jatra on 12 August. Kachhan Gadi puja is scheduled for 10 October, Kalash Sthapana for 11 October and Jogi Bithai for 12 October. Nisha Jatra falls on 19 October, Bhitar Raini on 21 October and Bahar Raini on 22 October. The historic Muria Darbar will be held on the afternoon of 23 October, and the festival formally closes on 27 October (Source: Patrika, 11 August 2026).

Ritual	Date (2026)
Kachhan Gadi	10 October
Kalash Sthapana	11 October
Jogi Bithai	12 October
Nisha Jatra	19 October
Bhitar Raini	21 October
Bahar Raini	22 October
Muria Darbar (afternoon)	23 October
Formal close	27 October

Read about the rituals in our Bastar Dussehra 2026 guide.

Delhi: Luv Kush Ramlila at Red Fort, 11 to 21 October

Status: expected. The Luv Kush Ramlila Committee held a bhoomi pujan at the Red Fort grounds, starting preparations for its Ramlila from 11 to 21 October. President Arjun Kumar said the show will use a high-tech digital stage and be broadcast on around 100 Indian and international channels, and that nearly 40 Bollywood actors are expected to take part. The committee plans an image of Lord Ram made from one lakh diyas on Dussehra, 20 October (Source: The Tribune, 21 September 2026). Check the organiser's page for timings and entry. See also Dussehra 2026 in Delhi.

Varanasi: Ramnagar Ramlila under way

Status: reported. The Ramnagar Ramlila in Varanasi began on the evening of Anant Chaturdashi with the episode of Ravana's birth. A Kshir Sagar tableau showing Lord Vishnu resting on Sheshnaag was staged on the first day. The Ramlila runs for about a month, until Sharad Purnima (Source: UNI Varta, 26 September 2026). Learn more about the tradition in Ramlila: a vibrant retelling of the Ramayana.

Gujarat: Vadodara record attempt and paid passes at GMDC Ground

Status: reported. Vadodara Municipal Corporation and United Way of Baroda organised the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Garba' at the United Way Garba ground on 7 October, attempting a Guinness World Record for the highest number of Garba players performing at a single ground. Entry was free, and singer Atul Purohit performed with his group (Source: Business Today, 7 October 2026). The outcome of the record attempt had not been reported in our sources as of 9 October.

Status: official. Gujarat Tourism's Vibrant Navratri Festival at GMDC Ground, Ahmedabad, is listed for 11 to 20 October on the official Incredible India site. Passes are required for the first time in the event's 23-year history, priced from Rs 100 to Rs 3,000. The Premium Zone costs Rs 1,200 for a group of eight at first, rising to Rs 3,000 from the fifth day. Gujarat First reported that the first day is free and that tickets are sold on BookMyShow (Source: Gujarat Samachar (English), 27 September 2026). See our Navratri 2026 Gujarat Garba guide.

Telangana: Bathukamma 10 to 18 October, Saddula at Tank Bund

Status: official. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju reviewed preparations for the state's Bathukamma festivities, scheduled from 10 to 18 October. On 18 October a procession will start at 4 pm from the Martyrs' Memorial opposite the Secretariat, and celebrations at Tank Bund will run from 5 pm to 10 pm. HMDA and GHMC will arrange immersion at Bathukamma Ghat in Tank Bund Children's Park and along Necklace Road, and daily celebrations will be held at Ravindra Bharathi (Source: Siasat Daily, 3 October 2026). Plan with our Saddula Bathukamma at Tank Bund guide.

Delhi: Chhath arrangements reviewed

Status: official. Art, Culture and Languages Minister Kapil Mishra reviewed Chhath Puja preparations at the Delhi Secretariat with the Delhi Jal Board, MCD, PWD, DDA, Delhi Police, Fire Department and BSES. A single clearance window for organisers' permissions will open from 15 October, and the government will provide electricity connections and free power supply at ghats and other venues (Source: WebIndia123 (news agency report), 6 October 2026). Festival dates and arghya times are in our Chhath Puja 2026 guide.

Ayodhya: Deepotsav on 7 November

Status: official. The Uttar Pradesh government is targeting around 30 lakh diyas for Deepotsav 2026 in Ayodhya, with celebrations on 7 November. Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh directed officials to seek public suggestions through MyGov UP. The Tourism Department is preparing a 2,100-drone show, which will be held again during Jamghat, two days after Deepotsav (Source: The Hans India, 24 September 2026).

Preparations on the ground began earlier: the Ayodhya district administration held a coordination meeting and assigned responsibilities to the police and other departments. Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Kumar said preparations have begun, including reviews of the 14-Kosi and 5-Kosi Parikrama routes, and officials directed that construction at the ghats and Ram ki Paidi be finished early (Source: ANI via WebIndia123, 12 September 2026). Deepotsav falls the day before Diwali, which is on Sunday 8 November 2026 (Drik Panchang).

Varanasi: Dev Deepawali preparations begin

Status: official. Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam chaired a meeting on preparations for the upcoming Ganga Mahotsav and Dev Deepawali in Varanasi. He directed departments to prepare a coordinated action plan covering ghat cleaning, lighting, security, traffic, medical and firefighting arrangements, asked the Municipal Corporation to clear the Ganga's silt before the event, and said local artists should be given priority. The report did not state the 2026 event dates (Source: ANI via Asianet Newsable, 18 August 2026). See Varanasi Dev Deepawali 2026.

Travelling for the festivals?

Railways have announced festival specials on several of these routes, including Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar and Secunderabad-Sirpur Kagaznagar. See our festival special trains 2026 page, and always confirm event timings and entry with the organiser before you go.

Frequently asked questions

When is International Kullu Dussehra 2026?

It is expected from 21 to 27 October 2026 at Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu. The Dussehra Utsav Committee has invited 348 deities, and more than 300 are expected to take part (ETV Bharat Hindi, 2 October 2026).

Is GMDC Ground Garba free in 2026?

No longer, except reportedly on the first day. Gujarat Tourism's Vibrant Navratri Festival at GMDC Ground, Ahmedabad (11 to 20 October) requires passes for the first time, priced from Rs 100 to Rs 3,000 (Gujarat Samachar English, 27 September 2026). Gujarat First reported that the first day is free and tickets are sold on BookMyShow.

When is Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026?

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced Deepotsav for 7 November 2026, with a target of around 30 lakh diyas and a 2,100-drone show being prepared by the Tourism Department (The Hans India, 24 September 2026).

Where is Saddula Bathukamma in Hyderabad in 2026?

At Tank Bund on 18 October 2026. A procession starts at 4 pm from the Martyrs' Memorial opposite the Secretariat, and celebrations at Tank Bund run from 5 pm to 10 pm (Siasat Daily, 3 October 2026).

What has Delhi announced for Chhath Puja 2026?

The Delhi government will open a single clearance window for organisers' permissions from 15 October and will provide electricity connections and free power supply at ghats and other venues (WebIndia123 news agency report, 6 October 2026).

Will this page be updated?

Yes. News on this page was checked on 9 October 2026, and we will update it as announcements change.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

News checked on 9 October 2026; we will update as announcements change. Every item comes from a report we checked on that date, cited with its source name and publication date. Numbers such as deity counts, diya targets and pass prices are exactly as stated by those sources. Festival dates for context are from Drik Panchang.

Image credit: 1v2a3i, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dussehra_in_Almora.jpg).