The historic Red Fort Ground in Delhi is set for a special Dussehra moment today, October 20, as National Award-winning actress Yami Gautam performs the symbolic Ravan Vadh at the renowned Luv Kush Ramleela. With thousands of spectators expected, the actress will shoot the ceremonial arrow at the ten-headed effigy, marking the triumph of good over evil in front of one of the country’s most iconic festival stages.
The organisers have given this year’s celebration a theme that goes well beyond tradition. And in a casting choice that has the capital talking, they have placed a woman at the very centre of the ritual.
A woman’s arrow at the ten-headed king
At the Luv Kush Ramleela, the Ravan Vadh is the emotional peak of the Dussehra evening, the moment the crowd holds its breath before the effigy goes up in flames. Today, that moment belongs to Yami Gautam. She will represent the women of Delhi and the entire nation, turning the symbolic slaying of Ravana into a statement about courage, dignity and the fight against injustice and social evils.
Arjun Kumar, president of the Luv Kush Ramleela Committee, said the invitation carries a deliberate message. According to him, a woman is not only a symbol of love, compassion and strength, but also possesses the courage to stand against injustice. Ravana, he added, is not merely a mythological character; he also stands for arrogance and the evils prevailing in society.
This year’s theme: ‘Respect for Women’
The committee has declared ‘Respect for Women’ as the central theme of this year’s celebrations. The idea, in the organisers’ words, is to highlight that women play an equally significant role in the victory of good over evil. By having a woman perform the symbolic Ravan Vadh, they aim to send a strong and positive message about women’s empowerment, dignity and respect.
The choice feels particularly fitting for Yami, who has built a reputation for playing strong, grounded women on screen, from investigative officers to determined mothers. Her National Award win only adds weight to the symbolism.
From film reel to the real stage
The timing of the invitation is almost cinematic. Yami was recently seen performing Ravan Vadh in a scene from her latest film, Nai Naveli. Now she gets to bring that cinematic moment to life for real, drawing the bow in front of a live audience at the Red Fort Ground.
The committee has extended a warm invitation to the people of Delhi to attend the grand Dussehra celebrations with their families and children, promising a memorable evening of culture, tradition and women’s empowerment.
A star-studded tradition continues
Yami Gautam joins a long and glamorous list of Bollywood personalities who have been associated with the grand Ravan Vadh celebrations at Luv Kush Ramleela over the years. The names read like a who’s who of Indian cinema:
- Akshay Kumar
- Ajay Devgn
- John Abraham
- Prabhas
- Kareena Kapoor
- Filmmaker Rohit Shetty
Each of them added a memorable chapter to this prestigious tradition. Yami’s participation this year, framed as it is around women’s strength, is expected to add a distinctly new note to the celebrations.
FAQs
Who is performing the Ravan Vadh at Delhi’s Dussehra celebrations this year?
National Award-winning actress Yami Gautam will perform the symbolic Ravan Vadh at the Luv Kush Ramleela.
When and where will the event take place?
The event is scheduled for October 20, 2026, at the historic Red Fort Ground in Delhi.
What is the theme of this year’s Luv Kush Ramleela?
The central theme is ‘Respect for Women’, aimed at highlighting women’s strength and their role in standing against injustice and social evils.
Why was Yami Gautam chosen for the honour?
The organisers say she represents the women of Delhi and the nation, and her participation reinforces women’s dignity and their significant role in society’s victories.
Which other stars have performed the Ravan Vadh at Luv Kush Ramleela?
Over the years, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, John Abraham, Prabhas, Kareena Kapoor and Rohit Shetty have been associated with the celebrations.
As dusk falls over the Red Fort today, all eyes will be on the effigy, the arrow and the woman drawing the bow. Dussehra has always been about the victory of good over evil. This year, Delhi’s most famous Ramleela is reminding everyone who shares in that victory.
