18 Aug 2025
Dussehra or Vijayadashami is the festival of the victory of good over evil and in Mumbai the festival assumes a different complexion. The mix of people in the city combines the traditions of the whole of India and therefore celebrations are deep, vivid, and have many layers. You can read more atMyth, Majesty And Travel: Explore India During Dasara.
Dussehra is the festival in which the neighbourhoods of Mumbai buzz with action in the weeks before it. The flowers, lights and beautiful rangoli patterns are placed in the temples. Cultural groups organize dramas based on the Ramayana and the markets in the local towns are filled with people purchasing gifts in the form of clothes, sweets and ornaments. During the main day, viewing is possible to set fire to the high effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkaran where there is usually firework resulting in illumination of the night sky.
The coastal location of the city is what makes Dussehra in Mumbai very special. Whereas the nation enjoys the festival in the interior parts, Mumbai is one of the rare cities where this festival is celebrated through both the seashores and cultural events. There are also communities that conduct the rituals along the shores and utilize the Arabian Sea as a serene background to the lively festivities. Going out in the evening with friends or family during Dussehra at the Marine Drive or Juhu beach is magical, either side has the soothing sound of the lapping ocean, or there is a razzle-dazzle of colour, music, and dancing.

Being on a neighbourhood level is worth the experience especially when you wish to explore or experience the festival of Dussehra in Mumbai. There are storytelling sessions, performances of folk music at the local pandals, and also traditional dances such as Lavani and Dandiya. There are pockets in the city which are acclaimed to be associated with very staged Ramlila enactments which include stage sets, dressing up and narration that can take you to the mythological era.
Among the richest experiences of the city around this period is a Mumbai City Tour as the tour will not only expose you to the sights which are considered the best in the city but also to the areas where Dussehra festivities appear in its full glory. Whether it’s the mass burning of effigies in Shivaji Park to the heritage festivities in South Mumbai, such a tour makes you have the right perspective of how big and varied the festival is.
Mumbai is incomplete without its share of delicious food on Dussehra. There are numerous sweet shops filled with sweets made of jalebi, gulabjamun and shrikhand and street vendors selling tasty snacks such as bhelpuri and samosas. There are also some neighbourhoods that give traditional thalis on Maharashtrian cuisine, which will enable you to taste original flavours during the festive season.
Music also has a central role to play, the drums, the folk instruments, and the devotional songs can be heard throughout the streets. The manic shopping reaches its pinnacle at markets such as Crawford, Dadar and Colaba Causeway.
In spite of the buzzing activity that comes with the festival, the beauty of nature in Mumbai sets in to match the events. The sunset spots in the city Worli Sea Face, Bandra Fort, and Versova Beach emerge as some peaceful places to stop and relax and enjoy the day. When the night comes, the lighted avenues, the lanterns, the balconies are festooned to produce a wonderful city atmosphere that is like a living post-card.
Dussehra in Mumbai is not just a religious festival; it is a potent mix of tales, views and noises that show the urban arts of the city. It is the place of traditions and the new time, where sea wind brings the smell of incense as well as the rhythm of the drums. The festival attracts not only its native people but also tourists who want to observe a distinct version of such a pan-Indian festival.
Whether you are thinking that you might want to experience this festival first hand, having everything ready like arranging accommodation ahead of time, will allow you to enjoy every aspect of this festival without skipping a beat. Booking with the Popular Travel Agency in India, you will experience hand-picked itineraries, local knowledge, and smooth arrangements allowing you to get immersed in the sights, sounds, and the zeal of the festival of Dussehra in Mumbai.
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