Joy Rides, Food Stalls & Tons Of Drama - A Photo Essay On The Dussehra Celebrations At Lal Quila Maidan

On the 13th day of war against the ten-headed demon king Ravana, Hindu Lord Rama finally tasted victory, rescuing his wife from Ravana’s captivity and bringing his tyrannical reign to an end. His victory was celebrated across the Kosala empire, and continues to be one of India’s biggest and most important festivals!

Scroll through as we unravel the festival celebrated by scores of locals at one of the most lively and well-known spots in Old Delhi - Lal Quila Maidan that is brimming with joy rides, food stalls and of course tons of drama!

The festivities begin 12 days before the day of Rama's victory with thousands of people attending it on a daily basis, indulging in street treats and and joy rides.

The Ramlila is a dramatic re-telling of Rama's life, taking viewers through the abduction of Sita, the climactic battle with the lankan empire leading up to Ravana's end at the hands of Rama's arrow.

This year, the drama quotient was kicked up a notch with dance troupes, fire-breathers, aerial artists and professional stuntmen coming on board to give the story a cinematic touch. 

So head on over and join in the festive fervour!

This fascinating photo essay has been contributed by Ansh Ranvir Vohra. Ansh is a young digital filmmaker based out of Delhi. Owing to his love for spicy punjabi food, he's also sometimes referred to as Shutter Chicken. Having been at it since 16, his films have travelled within the country, occasionally making it outside too, and his photographic work exhibited at the Indian Habitat Centre and featured by multiple online portals. He’s currently working on an independent documentary project and running an Indo-Pak collaborative art space called The Pind Collective. You can follow him on instagram - @shutterchicken & facebook - facebook.com/shuttermurgh and contact him on [email protected].