A 181-foot Ravana is going up at Parade Ground. That is the headline from preparations for Dussehra 2026 in Dehradun, and it gives anyone planning an evening out on 20 October a fairly obvious place to start.
The height comes from Dainik Jagran’s 14 October report, which describes the effigy being lifted into place by a crane. The Bannu Biradari Dussehra Committee is organising its 79th Dussehra Mahotsav at the ground. Remote-controlled ignition is part of the reported plan.
But for anyone actually going, the useful question is simpler: what time do you need to be there?
The programme for 20 October for Dussehra 2026 in Dehradun
Tuesday, 20 October is the date to put in your calendar. According to The Ho Halla’s report of the committee’s 16 October briefing, Lanka Dahan is scheduled for 5:30 pm, followed by Ravan Dahan at 6:05 pm. Fireworks are listed from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
The same report says a procession will leave Shri Gopinath Temple and reach Parade Ground, with Bharat Milap planned for 21 October. It does not give us a complete, verified procession route to recommend here.
Keep those evening timings handy, then check for an update before leaving. They are the reported programme, and an event this size can run differently on the ground.
For a family outing, it makes sense to arrive in the area before the first scheduled burning. There is the ride to think about, then parking, then the walk to wherever spectators are being admitted. Reaching a nearby road at 5:30 is not the same as being ready to watch at 5:30.
You don’t have to pack the whole evening with other plans. A shopping stop, a meal and Ravan Dahan can sound manageable when you’re discussing it at home. Once everyone is waiting for the same junction to clear, the spare time disappears.
Going by Activa from Hathibarkala?
Check the festival traffic plan on the day. There isn’t a verified scooter shortcut or confirmed parking location in the material checked for this article, so giving you a neat string of gali names would be misleading.
A scooter is easier to park than a car in ordinary circumstances. On a festival evening, however, the approach road you usually use may have a barrier across it. Follow the police directions rather than trying to squeeze through a lane because the map still shows it as open.
Once you’ve parked in a permitted spot, save the location. Pick a meeting point with the people you’re going with, too. “We’ll meet near the ground” is a vague arrangement when you’re trying to find someone after the fireworks.
Carry water, charge your phone and wear something comfortable on your feet. If you’re taking children, put a contact number in a pocket and explain where to wait if anyone gets separated. Choose a viewing place where the whole group can comfortably stay; the closest position isn’t always worth the pushing needed to reach it.
And stay behind the cordon. A clear patch beside an effigy may look like an excellent place for a video, but the safety boundary is there for the burning and falling debris.
What still needs checking?
Entry arrangements, parking charges and any reserved seating should be confirmed directly with the organisers. The sources checked for this guide did not establish a ticket requirement for the main celebration. That leaves a question to check, rather than a reason to assume every online “VIP pass” offer is valid.
Also check the date on the posts you forward. Search results bring up older Parade Ground celebrations alongside this year’s coverage. A photograph of a huge Ravana doesn’t tell you which year’s programme is underneath it. Reach Digitalz Doon to get real information on Dehradun.
For Dussehra 2026 in Dehradun, the main plan is straightforward: Parade Ground on 20 October, with the reported programme beginning at 5:30 pm. Leave enough room around that plan for the journey in and the walk back. The evening will be easier if you already know where to find your family and your scooter when it’s over.
