Srinagar Dussehra: Kashmiri Pandits, tourists watch Ravan Dahan together
Representative image: Tanuj_handa / Pixabay
Kashmiri Pandits, tourists and residents of several faiths watched effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad burn in Srinagar on October 20, 2026.
What Happened
Kashmiri Pandits, tourists and residents of different faiths gathered in Srinagar on the evening of Tuesday, October 20, 2026 to celebrate Dussehra, as giant effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghnad were set on fire at a cricket practice ground in the city. The event was organised by the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti with the support of the Punit Balan Group, according to reports from Srinagar. Sweets were distributed, and reports described Muslims and Sikhs among the hundreds who attended.
Key Facts
- Date and place: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in Srinagar; reports place the Ravan Dahan at the cricket practice grounds, named by local outlets as the JKCA Practice Ground on Church Lane.
- Organisers: the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti, a body representing Kashmiri Pandits who still live in the Valley, with support from the Pune-based Punit Balan Group.
- Effigies: Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad, burned with fireworks at dusk.
- Crowd: hundreds of people, including Kashmiri Pandits, tourists, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, according to reports.
- Elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir: Dussehra was also marked with religious fervour in other parts of the Union Territory, according to reports from Jammu and Kashmir.
Why It Matters
According to tradition, Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, marks Lord Rama's victory over Ravana, and the burning of effigies symbolises the victory of good over evil. In most of north India it is one of the most familiar public rituals of the year. In Kashmir, it carries extra weight. Kashmiri Pandits are a small Hindu community native to the Valley, and most of them left Kashmir in 1990 amid militancy. Public Hindu festivals in Srinagar became rare for years afterwards.
That is why a crowded Ravan Dahan in the heart of Srinagar draws attention. For the Pandits who stayed in the Valley, it is a way to keep their festivals visible in their home city. For the organisers, it is also a message: the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti has framed the event over the years as a celebration in which neighbours of all faiths take part, and reports from this year again noted the presence of Muslims and Sikhs alongside Hindus.
Tourists add another layer. Visitors from outside the Valley joined the celebration, according to reports. Festivals that bring local communities and visitors together are part of how the Valley presents itself to the rest of the country, and the support of a Pune-based business group shows that the event draws backing from outside Jammu and Kashmir too.
The ritual itself is the same as elsewhere, but its setting is not. Ahead of the evening, a local report said the organisers planned a 32-foot effigy of Ravana, making it the centrepiece of the evening's Ravan Dahan.
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Dussehra Ravan Dahan |
| Date | October 20, 2026 |
| Place | Cricket practice ground, Srinagar |
| Organisers | Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti, with Punit Balan Group |
| Effigies | Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Meghnad |
Impact
Short-term: The celebration gives Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley a visible public festival and adds to the festive season for tourists in Srinagar ahead of Diwali.
Long-term: Regular public celebrations of Hindu festivals in Srinagar, attended by people of different faiths, help sustain the Pandits' cultural presence in the Valley and its image as a shared space.
Who is affected: Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley, residents of Srinagar, tourists, and the organisers and local authorities who manage such events.
Key Takeaway
Kashmiri Pandits, tourists and residents of several faiths gathered in Srinagar on October 20, 2026 to burn effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad, in a Dussehra event organised by the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti.
Questions and Answers
How was Dussehra celebrated in Srinagar in 2026?
On October 20, 2026, the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti organised a Ravan Dahan at a cricket practice ground in Srinagar, where effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad were burned before hundreds of people, and sweets were distributed.
Who organised the Dussehra event in Srinagar?
The Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti organised it, with support from the Pune-based Punit Balan Group, according to reports.
Who attended the Srinagar Dussehra celebration?
Reports said Kashmiri Pandits, tourists, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs were among the hundreds who attended.
Why is a Dussehra celebration in Srinagar significant?
Most Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley in 1990 amid militancy, and public Hindu festivals in Srinagar became rare. A well-attended Ravan Dahan shows the community's festivals continuing in the city with participation from other communities.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
