Flames lit up Jakhu Hill in Shimla on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, as the Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh joined a throng of devotees for the burning of effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhkarna at the storied Jakhu Temple — one of the most revered Hanuman shrines in the Himalayan state. The entire atmosphere, the post noted, was charged with devotion as large crowds gathered on the sacred hilltop.

The Chief Minister's Office shared the moment on X, writing: 'Dashahra ke paavan avsar par suprasiddh Jakhu Mandir mein Raavan, Meghnaad aur Kumbhakaran ke putlon ka dahan kiya' — 'On the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkarna were burnt at the famous Jakhu Temple.' The post invoked Lord Rama as the ideal of maryada, kartavya aur lokkalyan — dignity, duty, and dedication to public welfare.

Jakhu Temple and Shimla's Dussehra Tradition

Jakhu Temple, perched atop Jakhu Hill at roughly 2,455 metres above sea level, is one of Shimla's oldest and most visited pilgrimage sites, dedicated to Lord Hanuman and steeped in Ramayana lore. Dussehra observances here draw devotees from across the region each year, transforming the hillside into a festival of lights, chanting, and the dramatic spectacle of effigy burning that marks the symbolic defeat of evil.

The occasion is one of many Dussehra celebrations Himachal Pradesh is known for. The state also hosts the internationally recognised Kullu Dussehra, a week-long fair that draws visitors and deities from hundreds of villages across the hills — a reminder that in the mountains, this festival carries a weight and a scale all its own.

Rama's Values and the Official Message

Beyond the spectacle, the Chief Minister's Office used the moment to anchor a broader message: that Lord Rama's example — upholding righteous conduct, fulfilling duty, and working for the welfare of the people — remains a living ideal. It is a framing Indian state governments have consistently returned to on Dussehra, drawing a line from ancient epic to contemporary public life. The values of maryada purushottam — the ideal righteous man — translate, in the political register, into a reminder of what governance is supposed to look like.

With four photographs attached to the post, the visuals of the burning effigies and the gathered crowds spoke as loudly as the words. Dussehra 2026 on Jakhu Hill was, by every measure, a moment the state chose to mark with intention.

The fire on the hilltop has gone out — but the message it carried down into the valley is meant to last.