Ramleela dekh li. Ab bachche ko dhanush chahiye. Abhi.
Every year it's the same: Ravan gets burnt, and by the next morning every kid in the colony is Ram, Lakshman or Hanuman. Here's when Dussehra 2026 is, and the mela toys that make the day.
When is Dussehra 2026?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, the day after Navratri ends.
- Dashami tithi begins: 12:50 PM, Tuesday 20 October
- Dashami tithi ends: 2:11 PM, Wednesday 21 October
- Vijay Muhurat: 2:00 PM to 2:46 PM, 20 October
- Ravan Dahan: after sunset on 20 October, at Ramleela grounds across Delhi
In Bengal, Vijayadashami and Durga visarjan fall on Wednesday, 21 October. For Delhi and most of North India, it's Tuesday the 20th. Check your local panchang for exact city timings.
The classic Dussehra mela toys
The Dussehra mela is half the festival for kids. These are the toys they come home with, every single year:
- Dhanush baan (bow and arrow): the Ram toy. Pick suction-cup or blunt-tip arrows for younger kids.
- Gada: Hanuman ji's mace. Light plastic ones are best; the heavy ones become weapons against siblings.
- Masks (mukhote): Ravan with ten heads, Hanuman, Ram. Look for eye and breathing holes.
- Talwar-dhaal (sword and shield): for kids who want to be the whole Ramleela cast at once.
- Mukut (crown): Ram and Ravan crowns for dressing up and school events.
- Bansuri, damru and pipudi: noisy, cheap, loved. Parents, we're sorry.
- Firki and lattu: pinwheels and spinning tops, the oldest mela toys and still undefeated.
Buying tips for parents
- Under 3: skip arrows, small whistles and anything with small parts. Firki and soft masks are safer.
- 3 to 7: the sweet spot for dhanush baan, gada and masks. Buy two if there are siblings. Trust us.
- 8+: they'll want the bigger bow, the full costume, or a proper game. Pair a mela toy with something from Game Night.
- Return gifts: firki, lattu and bansuri make easy, cheap Dussehra return gifts for colony kids.
Missed the mela? We deliver in 60 minutes
Not everyone has time to fight the crowd at the Ramleela ground. Woopito delivers 24/7 in 60 minutes within 20 km of Saket: Malviya Nagar, Greater Kailash, Vasant Kunj, Sainik Farms, Hauz Khas and nearby. Order in the afternoon, it arrives before Ravan dahan.
FAQs
Is Dussehra 2026 on 20 or 21 October?
Dussehra is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 in Delhi and most of India. Bengal Vijayadashami is on 21 October.
What toys are sold at a Dussehra mela?
Bow and arrow (dhanush baan), Hanuman gada, Ravan and Hanuman masks, swords and shields, crowns, flutes, damru, pinwheels (firki) and spinning tops (lattu).
Can I get Dussehra toys delivered the same day in South Delhi?
Yes. Woopito delivers 24/7 in 60 minutes within 20 km of Saket, including on Dussehra.
What comes after Dussehra?
Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November and Diwali on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Dhanteras 2026: what to buy →