Dussehra 2026 Date — Tuesday, October 20, 2026
When is Dussehra in 2026? Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Observance: Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra). City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.
Other years: Dussehra 2025 date · Dussehra 2027 date
Dussehra 2026 muhurat & timings — Delhi
| Sunrise | 06:24 am |
|---|---|
| Sunset | 05:46 pm |
| Moonrise | 02:19 pm |
| Brahma Muhurat | 04:43 am – 05:34 am |
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:43 am – 12:28 pm |
| Rahu Kaal (avoid) | 02:56 pm – 04:21 pm |
| Tithi at sunrise | Shukla Navami |
| Nakshatra | Shravana |
These are the day’s general muhurats and Rahu Kaal for Delhi, computed from the AllMandir panchang. Festival puja timings vary by tradition and city — open the full panchang for Tue, 20 October 2026 or ask your local mandir.
Dussehra 2026 — full list of dates
| Observance | Date & day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Navratri begins — Ghatasthapana | Sun, 11 October 2026 | |
| Maha Ashtami | Mon, 19 October 2026 | |
| Maha Navami | Tue, 20 October 2026 | |
| Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra) | Tue, 20 October 2026 | Main day |
Why we celebrate
Victory of Durga over Mahishasura and Rama over Ravana — triumph of dharma.
How it is celebrated
Durga visarjan, sindoor khela, Ravana effigy burning, Ayudha puja, Vijayadashami processions.
Puja timing
Visarjan and shami puja during Vijay muhurta on Dashami.
Foods & offerings
Feast after visarjan; sweets exchanged.
Rituals
- Final Devi puja and visarjan to water.
- Exchange leaves of shami tree for gold (symbolic).
- Begin new learning or business.
Dussehra dates by year
| Year | Date & day |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Dussehra 2025 date |
| 2026 | Tue, 20 October 2026 |
| 2027 | Dussehra 2027 date |
| 2028 | Dussehra 2028 date |
Hindu festivals around Dussehra 2026
- Durga Puja 2026 date — Mon, 19 October 2026
- Sharad Purnima 2026 date — Sun, 25 October 2026
- Sharad Navratri 2026 date — Sun, 11 October 2026
- Karva Chauth 2026 date — Thu, 29 October 2026
- Mahalaya Amavasya 2026 date — Sat, 10 October 2026
- Dhanteras 2026 date — Sat, 7 November 2026
- Naraka Chaturdashi 2026 date — Sun, 8 November 2026
- Diwali 2026 date — Mon, 9 November 2026
- Govardhan Puja 2026 date — Tue, 10 November 2026
- Bhai Dooj 2026 date — Wed, 11 November 2026
- Anant Chaturdashi 2026 date — Fri, 25 September 2026
- Chhath Puja 2026 date — Sun, 15 November 2026
Dussehra 2026 puja & muhurat timings in major cities
| City | Vijay Muhurat | Aparahna puja time | Abhijit Muhurat | Rahu Kaal (avoid) | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 01:59 pm – 02:45 pm | 01:14 pm – 03:30 pm | 11:43 am – 12:28 pm | 02:56 pm – 04:21 pm | 06:24 am | 05:46 pm |
| Mumbai | 02:20 pm – 03:06 pm | 01:33 pm – 03:53 pm | 11:59 am – 12:46 pm | 03:17 pm – 04:44 pm | 06:34 am | 06:12 pm |
| Bengaluru | 02:02 pm – 02:49 pm | 01:15 pm – 03:37 pm | 11:40 am – 12:27 pm | 03:01 pm – 04:29 pm | 06:10 am | 05:58 pm |
| Chennai | 01:52 pm – 02:39 pm | 01:04 pm – 03:26 pm | 11:30 am – 12:17 pm | 02:50 pm – 04:18 pm | 05:59 am | 05:47 pm |
| Hyderabad | 01:58 pm – 02:44 pm | 01:11 pm – 03:31 pm | 11:37 am – 12:24 pm | 02:55 pm – 04:23 pm | 06:10 am | 05:51 pm |
| Kolkata | 01:17 pm – 02:03 pm | 12:30 pm – 02:49 pm | 10:58 am – 11:44 am | 02:14 pm – 03:40 pm | 05:35 am | 05:07 pm |
Times come from each city’s own sunrise, sunset and panchang for Tue, 20 October 2026. Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of 15 daytime muhurtas and Aparahna the 4th of 5 daytime parts, both computed from each city’s sunrise and sunset.
Dussehra rituals step by step
- Complete the final Navratri puja to Devi in the morning and, where Durga idols are installed, perform visarjan.
- Perform Aparajita puja and Shami puja in the Aparahna (afternoon) period of Dashami — the Vijay Muhurat inside it is preferred.
- Worship tools, books, vehicles and instruments (Ayudha puja), cleaned and marked with kumkum and turmeric.
- Offer Shami leaves (and Apta leaves in Maharashtra) to elders and friends as symbolic gold, and seek blessings.
- In the evening, attend the Ravana Dahan of Ram Lila where it is held locally.
What to do on Dussehra 2026
- Start something new — learning (Vidyarambham), a business, a purchase — Vijayadashami is treated as auspicious for beginnings.
- Visit a Durga, Rama or Hanuman temple and join the Vijayadashami procession.
- Avoid scheduling the main puja inside Rahu Kaal; use the city table below for local times.
- Share sweets with neighbours and visit elders.
Dussehra 2026 FAQ
What time is Vijay Muhurat on Dussehra 2026 in Delhi?
Vijay Muhurat in Delhi on Tue, 20 October 2026 is 01:59 pm – 02:45 pm (local time, AllMandir panchang). See the table for other cities.
What is Vijay Muhurat on Dussehra?
Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 muhurtas of daytime (sunrise to sunset). It is the preferred time on Dashami for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and starting new work. The table on this page computes it for each city from local sunrise and sunset.
What is Aparahna time for Dussehra puja?
Aparahna is the fourth of the five equal parts of daytime. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) pujas are traditionally done in the Aparahna period of Dashami tithi.
Is Dussehra the same as Vijayadashami?
Yes. Dussehra and Vijayadashami name the same day — Ashwin Shukla Dashami, the day after the nine nights of Navratri.
