Dussehra 2026 (Vijayadashami): Date, Vijay Muhurat, Ravan Dahan Time, Puja Vidhi and Significance

Discover the Dussehra 2026 date, Vijay Muhurat, Ravan Dahan timings, state-wise celebrations, puja vidhi and the festival’s significance for auspicious new beginnings.

Dussehra 2026, also known as Vijayadashami, falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 in most of India. The Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM that day; the Vijay Muhurat in New Delhi runs from 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM, and Ravan Dahan takes place after sunset. Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal observe Vijayadashami a day later, on Wednesday, 21 October.

The festival closes the nine nights of Sharad Navratri and marks two victories that Hindu tradition holds dear: Lord Rama's over Ravana and Goddess Durga's over Mahishasura. This guide gives the verified date and muhurats for 2026, the time for Ravan Dahan in major cities, the state-wise dates, a simple puja vidhi for the home, and the reasons the day is considered so favourable for new beginnings.

Timings are in Indian Standard Time and are for New Delhi unless another city is named. They follow Drik Panchang's Vijayadashami page and have been cross-checked against the Government of India holiday list.

Dussehra 2026 at a Glance

 

When Is Dussehra in 2026?

Dussehra is celebrated on the Dashami (tenth) tithi of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, the day after Navratri ends. In 2026, that tithi begins at 12:50 PM on Tuesday, 20 October and ends at 2:11 PM on Wednesday, 21 October. Dussehra is observed on Tuesday, 20 October, which is also a gazetted holiday for central government offices.

Why Dussehra Is on 20 October and Not 21 October

Most festivals follow the tithi at sunrise. Dussehra is different. Its date is decided by the afternoon, the period called Aparahna, because that is when the Vijayadashami rituals are performed. On 20 October, Dashami begins at 12:50 PM and covers the whole of Aparahna, from 1:14 PM to 3:30 PM. On 21 October, it ends at 2:11 PM, part of the way through. The 20th has the stronger claim, and most North Indian panchangs fix Dussehra on that day.

Regions that follow the sunrise tithi reach a different answer. Dashami is the tithi at sunrise only on 21 October, so Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal keep Vijayadashami on Wednesday.

Dussehra 2026 Date by State

 

State holiday lists can change by notification, and practice varies between communities. If your family follows a regional panchang, go by it.

Dussehra 2026 Shubh Muhurat: Vijay Muhurat and Aparahna Puja Time

Two windows matter on Vijayadashami. The Vijay Muhurat is a short afternoon period regarded as the moment of victory. It is the preferred time for Shastra Puja and for beginning anything new. The Aparahna Puja time is the wider afternoon window for Aparajita Puja and Shami Puja. Both depend on local sunrise and sunset, so they differ by city.

 

City timings are calculated from local sunrise and sunset and can differ by a minute or two between Panchangs.

Ravan Dahan 2026 Time

Ravan Dahan is held on the evening of Tuesday, 20 October 2026, after sunset. Tradition places it in Pradosh Kaal, the period of roughly two and a half hours that follows sunset. In New Delhi, the sun sets at 5:47 PM, and Pradosh Kaal lasts until about 8:18 PM.

There is no single national time. Each Ramlila committee fixes its own schedule, and the effigies are lit once the final scene of the Ramlila has been staged. Use the sunset column in the table above for your city, then check the time announced by your local organisers.

Effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghnad are set alight to mark the end of the Ramlila. UNESCO recognised Ramlila as intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Dussehra Puja Vidhi: How to Observe Vijayadashami at Home

Customs differ from family to family. The outline below covers the observances most households follow.

Shastra Puja (Ayudha Puja)

Shastra Puja is the worship of weapons and, by extension, the tools of one's trade. Today that means vehicles, machinery, instruments, account books, laptops and work tools. Clean them, apply a roli and akshat tilak, offer flowers, and tie a mauli. The Vijay Muhurat is the preferred time.

Aparajita Puja

Goddess Aparajita, whose name means "the unconquered", is worshipped during Aparahna for success in what lies ahead. Families usually set up the puja in the north-east of the home, offer flowers, incense and a ghee lamp, and pray for victory over obstacles.

Shami Puja

The Shami tree, also called khejri or jammi, is honoured on Vijayadashami because of its place in the Mahabharata. Where a Shami tree is nearby, people offer water, light a lamp beneath it and take a few leaves home. In Maharashtra, Apta leaves are exchanged as "sona" (gold), with the wish that the receiver stays as precious as gold.

Seema Avalanghan

Seema Avalanghan, or crossing the boundary, recalls kings setting out on campaigns on this day. It survives as a symbolic step: families walk a short distance beyond the limits of the home or village to mark the start of a new undertaking.

A Simple Order for the Day

1. Bathe early, clean the entrance and the puja space, and hang a fresh toran of mango leaves and marigolds.

2. If you kept the Navratri fast, complete the Parana after the Navami tithi ends at 12:50 PM.

3. During Aparahna, from 1:14 PM to 3:30 PM in Delhi, perform Aparajita Puja.

4. In the Vijay Muhurat, from 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM in Delhi, perform Shastra Puja and begin any new work you have planned.

5. Visit a Shami tree if there is one nearby, or exchange Shami or Apta leaves with family and friends.

6. In the evening, attend the local Ramlila and Ravan Dahan, and seek the blessings of elders.

Why Dussehra Is Celebrated

Lord Rama's Victory Over Ravana

In the Ramayana, Ravana, the king of Lanka, abducts Sita, and Rama defeats him after a long war with the help of Lakshmana, Hanuman and the vanara army. Tradition holds that Ravana fell on the tenth day of the bright half of Ashwin. Dussehra celebrates that victory, and it is the reason effigies of Ravana are burnt across North India.

Goddess Durga's Victory Over Mahishasura

The Devi Mahatmya tells of Goddess Durga's battle with the buffalo demon Mahishasura, which the nine nights of Navratri commemorate. Vijayadashami is the day of her victory. In West Bengal, it is Bijoya Dashami, when the Goddess is bid farewell, and her idols are immersed.

The Pandavas and the Shami Tree

The Mahabharata gives the day a third association. Before their year in disguise at King Virata's court, the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree. Tradition says they retrieved them on Vijayadashami, and Arjuna went on to defeat the Kaurava forces. Shami Puja and Shastra Puja both look back to this story.

Dussehra also has a place in modern history. On 14 October 1956, which was Vijayadashami that year, Dr B. R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in Nagpur along with his followers. The anniversary is observed as Dhammachakra Pravartan Din.

How Dussehra Is Celebrated Across India

• Delhi and North India: Ramlila performances end with Ravan Dahan on the evening of 20 October. The Ramlilas of Ayodhya, Ramnagar and Varanasi are among the best known.
• Mysuru, Karnataka: Mysuru Dasara runs from 11 to 21 October 2026 and ends with the Jamboo Savari, in which the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried in a golden howdah on an elephant. Karnataka Tourism lists the procession for 21 October.
• Kullu, Himachal Pradesh: Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami and continues for a week, with village deities brought in procession to Dhalpur Maidan to honour Lord Raghunath.
• Bastar, Chhattisgarh: Bastar Dussehra lasts about 75 days and is devoted to Goddess Danteshwari. It is not connected with the Ramayana.
• West Bengal: Bijoya Dashami on 21 October brings Sindoor Khela and the immersion of the Durga idols.
• Maharashtra and Gujarat: Families exchange Apta leaves in Maharashtra, and Gujarat ends its Garba nights with fafda and jalebi on Dussehra morning.
• Kerala and the south: Children write their first letters at Vidyarambham, on 21 October in Kerala. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana mark Vijayadashami on 20 October.

Why Dussehra Is Considered Auspicious for New Beginnings

In the Hindu calendar, Vijayadashami is counted among the Sade Teen Muhurat, the three and a half days regarded as favourable from start to finish. The others are Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (Gudi Padwa and Ugadi), Akshaya Tritiya and, as the half, Kartik Shukla Pratipada. The belief is that work begun on these days does not need a separately calculated muhurat.

This is why people choose Dussehra to buy a vehicle, gold or property, open a shop or office, sign an agreement or start a course of study. In 2026, the day also carries Shravana nakshatra until 6:02 PM, the star traditionally associated with Vijayadashami.

Two practical points apply in 2026. First, the Dashami tithi begins only at 12:50 PM, so if you want your purchase or launch to fall on Dashami itself, plan it for the afternoon. The Vijay Muhurat is the preferred slot. Second, the belief that no muhurat is needed is a general one. Marriages and other major rites are still fixed from the individual birth chart.

If you are launching a business this Dussehra, our guide to choosing a business name through numerology is a useful place to start, and a kundli analysis can show whether the coming period supports the step you are planning.

Plan Your New Beginning With Personal Guidance

A favourable day works best alongside a favourable chart. Dr. Sanjay Sethi offers astrology consultations and numerology readings for business launches, property and vehicle purchases, and other decisions people make around Dussehra.

Book a personal consultation with Dr. Sanjay Sethi

Frequently Asked Questions About Dussehra 2026

1. When is Dussehra in 2026?

Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 in most of India. Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal observe Vijayadashami on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

2. What is the Vijay Muhurat on Dussehra 2026?

In New Delhi, the Vijay Muhurat on 20 October 2026 is from 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM. The wider Aparahna Puja time is from 1:14 PM to 3:30 PM. Both windows shift by a few minutes in other cities.

3. What time is Ravan Dahan in 2026?

Ravan Dahan is on the evening of Tuesday, 20 October 2026, after sunset. In New Delhi the sun sets at 5:47 PM, and Pradosh Kaal lasts until about 8:18 PM. The exact time is set by each local Ramlila committee.

4. When does the Dashami tithi begin and end in 2026?

The Ashwin Shukla Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 and ends at 2:11 PM on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

5. Is Dussehra on 20 or 21 October 2026?

It depends on the rule a region follows. Where the date is decided by Dashami in the afternoon, as in most of North India, Dussehra is on 20 October. Where the sunrise tithi is followed, as in Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal, Vijayadashami is on 21 October.

6. What is the difference between Dussehra and Vijayadashami?

They are two names for the same festival. Dussehra is the common name in North and West India, where the day is linked with Lord Rama's victory over Ravana. Vijayadashami, "the tenth day of victory", is used more widely in the south and east, where it is linked with Goddess Durga.

7. Is Dussehra a good day to buy a vehicle or start a business?

By tradition, yes. Vijayadashami is one of the Sade Teen Muhurat, days considered favourable throughout. In 2026, the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM on 20 October, so the afternoon is preferred, especially the Vijay Muhurat from 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM in Delhi.

8. What should be done at home on Dussehra?

Most families perform Aparajita Puja in the afternoon, worship their tools, vehicles and books in Shastra Puja, exchange Shami or Apta leaves, and watch Ravan Dahan in the evening. Those who fasted through Navratri complete their Parana after 12:50 PM.

9. What do Ravana's ten heads represent?

A popular interpretation is that the ten heads stand for ten human failings: lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, envy, selfishness, injustice, cruelty and ego. Burning the effigy is a reminder to give these up.

10. How many days after Dussehra is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, which is 19 days after Dussehra on 20 October. The gap is usually described as about 20 days.

11. Is Dussehra a public holiday in 2026?

Yes. Tuesday, 20 October 2026, is a gazetted holiday for central government offices. State holidays follow the local date, so Karnataka and Kerala list Vijayadashami on Wednesday, 21 October.