India marks the burning of Dasara and the immersion of Durga | In the pictures
Photo: R. Vengadesh
A new range of idols representing Lord Jagannath of Puri and dolls depicting scenes from the Ramayana are among the items on display at a sales exhibition organized by Poompuhar Showroom in Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu on October 4, 2026.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Artistes of the Panghat Garba Group immerse themselves in a high-energy pre-Navratri rehearsal at Rajwad in Ahmedabad on October 4, 2026.
Photo: Vijay Soneji
Panghat Garba Group artistes wrapped up their performance at Rajwadu Traditional Restaurant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Photo: G. Ramakrishna
Idols of Goddess Durga are displayed for sale in a market in Hyderabad, Telangana on October 5, 2026.
Photo: KVS Giri
An artisan gives final touches to idols of Goddess Durga at a workshop in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 7, 2026.
Photo: KR Deepak
An artisan sprays colors on idols of Goddess Durga in Kumartuli, Kolkata’s historic pottery district, in preparation for the Durga Puja festival on October 7, 2026.
Photo: Kommuri Srinivas
An artist depicting the goddess Kali performs a fire stunt during the Dasara Navaratri procession organized by devotees at the Chennakesavaswamy temple circle in Ongola, Andhra Pradesh, on October 14, 2026.
Photo: G. Ramakrishna
Devotees visit the beautifully decorated Durga Puja pandal in Secunderabad, Telangana on October 16, 2026.
Photo: V. Raju
Organized by the UTSAB Cultural Association, members of the Bengali community take part in the traditional Prabhat Pheri – singing devotional songs and playing traditional instruments – as part of Durga Puja celebrations in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on October 16, 2026.
Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma
Devotees pray and click pictures at Minto Road Mandal during Durga Puja celebrations in New Delhi on October 16, 2026.
Photo: GN Rao
Devotees pray and seek the blessings of Goddess Kanaka Durga at Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri during Dasara Devi Navaratri celebrations in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on October 17, 2026.
Photo: Imran Nissar
A priest prays at a pandal displaying an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga during the Durga Puja festival in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on October 17, 2026.
Photo: Biswaranjan Rout
A traditional artist paints portraits on the masks of the demon king Ravana at a workshop ahead of the Dussehra celebrations in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, October 17, 2026. An effigy of Ravana is traditionally burnt by devotees to mark the culmination of the Durga Puja festival.
Photo: MA Sriram
Intricate aerial formations light up the sky during the Dasara festival drone parade at the Torchlight Parade Grounds in Mysuru, Karnataka on October 17, 2026.
Photo: PTI
A priest at a Durga Puja pandal during the Durga Puja and Navratri festival at Allen Park on Park Street in Kolkata on October 17, 2026.
Photo: Rajesh N
As part of their religious ceremonies, devotees wear a kaappa (sacred thread on the wrist) and dress up in various costumes to collect offerings for the god and fulfill their vows. Thousands of Dasara devotees and groups from Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and other districts in Tamil Nadu started arriving at Kulasekrapattinam on 17 October 2026.
Photo: Rajesh N
Devotees dressed as gods, mythological figures and other characters during the annual Dasara festival at the Mutharamman temple in Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.
Photo: Rajesh N
Devotees in striking costumes at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district. Soorasamharam (destruction of the demon), the highlight of the festival, will be held at midnight on October 20, 2026.
Photo: N. Rajesh
As thousands of devotees are expected to attend the grand event, the city witnesses a constant influx of pilgrims from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
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People form a formation for ‘garba’ celebrations during the ‘Navratri’ festival in Rajkot, Gujarat on October 17, 2026.
Photo: PTI
A rider with his buffalo pair participates in the ‘Kambala’ race during ‘Dasara’ festival celebrations, in Mysuru, Karnataka on October 18, 2026. Kambala, a traditional buffalo race rooted in the coastal culture of Karnataka, made its debut this year at the world-famous Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
Photo: Murali Kumar K
Despite a drought-induced rise in flower prices, the Krishna Rajendra market in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on October 18, 2026, bursts into color with stalls laden with fresh flowers arriving from nearby districts.
Photo: Sriram MA
The illuminated Mysuru Palace in Karnataka is a focal point during Dasara and appeared in a golden hue with the Chamaraja circle in the foreground.
Photo: PTI
Devotees gather at a pandal during the ‘Durga Puja’ festival in Hyderabad, Telangana on October 19, 2026.
Photo: PTI
Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar offers prayers before Goddess Durga at a puja pandal during Navratri festival celebrations in Patna in October. 19, 2026.
Photo: Kumar SS
A child initiated into learning at the Sri Lakshmi Hayagriva Temple in Muthialpet, on Vijayadashami in Puducherry, October 20, 2026.
Photo: Bashkaran N
Hundreds of children were initiated into the world of letters at the Vidyarambam ritual on Vijayadashami Day in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu on October 20, 2026.
Photo: Bashkaran N
The Vidyarambham ceremony signifies the power of knowledge and Vijayadashami signifies the victory of good over evil.
Photo: PTI
A police official during the ‘Shastra Puja’ on the ninth day of the ‘Navratri’ festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on October 20, 2026.
Published – 20 Oct 2026 17:26 IST