Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 is on Tuesday, 20 October. It is celebrated on Ashwin Shukla Dashami, after Navratri. In tradition, it is the day of Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Seemollanghan are performed in the Aparahna Kaal.
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Sharad Navratri: Sunday, 11 October to Monday, 19 October, and Dussehra after it on Tuesday, 20 October.
City-wise times: Vijay muhurat
Pick your city for its full timings, nearby cities and common questions.
- New Delhi1:59–2:45 PM
- Varanasi1:37–2:23 PM
- Mumbai2:20–3:06 PM
- Kolkata1:17–2:03 PM
- Chennai1:52–2:39 PM
- Bengaluru2:02–2:49 PM
- Hyderabad1:58–2:44 PM
- Ahmedabad2:20–3:06 PM
- Jaipur2:06–2:51 PM
- Lucknow1:45–2:31 PM
- Patna1:29–2:14 PM
- Bhopal2:00–2:46 PM
- Ujjain2:07–2:53 PM
- Haridwar1:55–2:41 PM
- Pune2:16–3:02 PM
- Guwahati1:02–1:48 PM
- Noida1:59–2:44 PM
- Gurugram2:00–2:46 PM
- Ghaziabad1:58–2:44 PM
- Faridabad1:59–2:45 PM
- Chandigarh2:00–2:46 PM
- Ludhiana2:04–2:49 PM
- Amritsar2:08–2:53 PM
- Jammu2:08–2:52 PM
- Dehradun1:56–2:41 PM
- Rishikesh1:55–2:40 PM
- Shimla1:59–2:44 PM
- Agra1:57–2:42 PM
- Mathura1:58–2:44 PM
- Prayagraj1:42–2:28 PM
- Kanpur1:48–2:33 PM
- Ayodhya1:40–2:26 PM
- Gorakhpur1:35–2:21 PM
- Meerut1:57–2:43 PM
- Bareilly1:51–2:36 PM
- Jodhpur2:17–3:03 PM
- Udaipur2:15–3:01 PM
- Kota2:06–2:52 PM
- Ajmer2:10–2:56 PM
- Indore2:07–2:53 PM
- Gwalior1:56–2:42 PM
- Jabalpur1:50–2:36 PM
- Raipur1:44–2:30 PM
- Gaya1:29–2:15 PM
- Muzaffarpur1:28–2:13 PM
- Bhagalpur1:21–2:07 PM
- Darbhanga1:25–2:11 PM
- Ranchi1:29–2:15 PM
- Jamshedpur1:25–2:11 PM
- Dhanbad1:24–2:10 PM
- Bhubaneswar1:27–2:14 PM
- Puri1:28–2:14 PM
- Siliguri1:15–2:01 PM
- Surat2:19–3:05 PM
- Vadodara2:17–3:04 PM
- Rajkot2:27–3:13 PM
- Nagpur1:54–2:40 PM
- Nashik2:16–3:02 PM
- Panaji2:17–3:04 PM
- Visakhapatnam1:39–2:25 PM
- Tirupati1:55–2:42 PM
- Mysuru2:06–2:54 PM
- Kochi2:08–2:56 PM
- Thiruvananthapuram2:06–2:54 PM
- Coimbatore2:05–2:53 PM
- Madurai2:01–2:48 PM
Dussehra, Vijayadashami and Ayudha Puja 2026 by state
The Dashami tithi runs from 12:52 PM on 20 October to 2:13 PM on 21 October. On 20 October Dashami holds in the Aparahna, so Drik Panchang gives Dussehra on that day (for New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Bengaluru and Kolkata alike); on 21 October it holds at sunrise, and the West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka holiday lists keep Vijayadashami on that day. Each state’s days are from its 2026 list; Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham are customs.
| State | Days |
|---|---|
| Delhi (central government offices) | Dussehra on Tuesday 20 OctoberSource: DoPT office memorandum F.No.12/2/2023-JCA, 3 July 2025 |
| Maharashtra (Dasara) | Dasara on Tuesday 20 OctoberSource: Maharashtra Government Gazette: General Administration Department notification PHD-1125/C.R.199/Japuk (29), 5 December 2025 |
| Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (Dasara) | Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October; in Telangana the next day, 21 October, is a holiday tooSource: both states’ 2026 holiday lists, as printed by Siasat and Sakshi Post (Telangana) and Sakshi Education and greytHR (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Tamil Nadu | Ayudha Puja on Monday 19 October; Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 OctoberSource: Government of Tamil Nadu, G.O.(Ms.) No.708, 11 November 2025 |
| Karnataka (Dasara) | Mahanavami and Ayudha Puja on Tuesday 20 October; Vijayadashami on Wednesday 21 October. Mysuru Dasara 11 to 21 OctoberSource: Karnataka government holiday notification for 2026 (DPAR 16 HHL 2025), as printed by Sakshi Post and greytHR; the Mysuru Dasara programme as announced by the Chief Minister (newkerala.com, 10 July 2026; Asianet Newsable, 2 October 2026) |
| Kerala | Mahanavami on Tuesday 20 October; Vijayadashami on Wednesday 21 October (Vidyarambham that morning, by tradition)Source: Kerala government holidays for 2026, G.O.(P) No.14/2025/GAD (Kerala Gazette, 31 October 2025), as printed by Onmanorama and Goodreturns |
| West Bengal | Maha Navami on Tuesday 20 October; Vijaya Dashami (Sindoor Khela, immersion) on Wednesday 21 OctoberSource: West Bengal Finance (Audit) Department, notification 4188-F(P2), 27 November 2025 |
At a glance
- Tithi
- Ashwin Shukla Dashami
- Also called
- Vijayadashami, Dussehra, Dasara
- Puja time
- Aparahna Kaal; the Vijay Muhurat is considered the most auspicious
- Main rites
- Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja, Seemollanghan, Shastra Puja
- Stories
- Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana and the Goddess’s victory over Mahishasura
- North India
- The Ramlila ends and Ravana’s effigy is burned (Ravana Dahan)
- Bengal
- Immersion of the Durga idol
A festival of two victories
Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana
In the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, Shri Rama fights the war in Lanka and slays Ravana. North Indian tradition links this victory to Dashami; this is where the customs of Ramlila and Ravana Dahan come from.
Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda; folk traditionThe Goddess’s victory over Mahishasura
In the middle episode (Madhyama Charitra) of the Durga Saptashati, the Goddess slays Mahishasura. After the nine days of worship in Navratri, Dashami is regarded as the day of victory; in Bengal, the Durga idol is immersed on this day.
Durga Saptashati, chapters 2–3Aparahna Kaal and Vijay Muhurat
In Hindu timekeeping, the day from sunrise to sunset has five parts; the fourth is called Aparahna. Dussehra’s Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Seemollanghan are performed at this time, and Dussehra is celebrated on the day when Dashami tithi prevails during Aparahna. Popular panchangs mark the eleventh of the day’s 15 muhurats as the Vijay Muhurat; it is considered auspicious for starting new work.
Shami and Aparajita
On Dussehra there is a tradition of worshipping the Shami tree, linked to a story from the Mahabharata (see below). Goddess Aparajita is worshipped with a prayer for victory, and in many regions it is the custom to cross the village or town boundary and come back (Seemollanghan).
How to perform the puja
- Step 1
Morning preparation
After bathing, clean the house, vehicles and tools.
- Step 2
Aparajita Puja
In the Aparahna, worship Goddess Aparajita, praying for victory and protection.
- Step 3
Shami Puja
Worship the Shami tree and walk around it (parikrama).
- Step 4
Weapon and vehicle puja
In many regions, weapons, tools and vehicles are worshipped on this day.
- Step 5
Ravana Dahan
In North India, in the evening, at the close of the Ramlila, effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna are burned.
The Shami tree and the Pandavas’ weapons
According to the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata, after completing twelve years of exile in the forest and before beginning their year in hiding, the Pandavas hid their bows and weapons in a Shami tree near the city of Virata. A year later, when the Kaurava army rounded up Virata’s cattle, Arjuna took the Gandiva down from that same Shami tree and drove the Kauravas back. The tradition of Shami Puja on Dussehra is linked to this story.
Mahabharata, Virata ParvaDussehra: relations
See in the knowledge graphDeities, figures and sages 2
Festivals 1
- Sharad Navratri · Preceding nine daysTradition
Frequently asked questions
When is Dussehra 2026?
On Tuesday, 20 October.
From which date does Dussehra begin?
Dussehra is a single day, this time on Tuesday, 20 October. The nine days before it are Sharad Navratri, which begins on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada. In many places the Ramlila also begins with Navratri and ends on Dussehra with the burning of Ravana.
When is the Dussehra mela 2026?
Dussehra fairs and the burning of Ravana are mostly held on Dussehra itself, Tuesday, 20 October; in some places the fair runs for several days. The local Ramlila or fair committee sets the time and place. In Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh the festival is called Dasara; each state sets its holiday in its own list.
When is Dasara 2026 in Maharashtra?
On Tuesday 20 October; the Maharashtra government’s 2026 holiday list has the same day. In Mumbai the Vijay muhurat is 2:20–3:06 PM.
When is Vijayadashami 2026 in Karnataka and Kerala?
On Wednesday 21 October, according to both states’ 2026 government holiday lists; that day Dashami holds from sunrise until 2:13 PM. Mahanavami is on 20 October.
When is Ayudha Puja 2026?
On Monday 19 October in Tamil Nadu and on Tuesday 20 October (Mahanavami) in Karnataka, according to the two state governments’ 2026 holiday lists.
What is the Vijay Muhurat?
In popular panchangs, when the day (sunrise to sunset) is divided into 15 muhurats, it is the eleventh. It lasts about 45 minutes and is given above for your city.
What is the difference between Dussehra and Vijayadashami?
There is none. They are two names for the same festival, on Ashwin Shukla Dashami.
On which day is Dussehra celebrated if Dashami falls on two days?
On the day when Dashami tithi prevails during the Aparahna Kaal. This is why Vijayadashami in Bengal sometimes falls on the next day.
At what time does Ravana Dahan take place?
Traditionally after sunset. The exact time depends on the local event.
Sources
- Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda
- Durga Saptashati (Markandeya Purana, chapters 81–93)
- Mahabharata, Virata Parva
- Dharmasindhu (ruling on Vijayadashami)
- Muhurat and moonrise: SanatanBodh panchang calculation, checked against Drik Panchang (New Delhi, 2026–27)
- Delhi (central government offices): DoPT office memorandum F.No.12/2/2023-JCA, 3 July 2025
- Maharashtra (Dasara): Maharashtra Government Gazette: General Administration Department notification PHD-1125/C.R.199/Japuk (29), 5 December 2025
- Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (Dasara): both states’ 2026 holiday lists, as printed by Siasat and Sakshi Post (Telangana) and Sakshi Education and greytHR (Andhra Pradesh)
- Tamil Nadu: Government of Tamil Nadu, G.O.(Ms.) No.708, 11 November 2025
- Karnataka (Dasara): Karnataka government holiday notification for 2026 (DPAR 16 HHL 2025), as printed by Sakshi Post and greytHR; the Mysuru Dasara programme as announced by the Chief Minister (newkerala.com, 10 July 2026; Asianet Newsable, 2 October 2026)
- Kerala: Kerala government holidays for 2026, G.O.(P) No.14/2025/GAD (Kerala Gazette, 31 October 2025), as printed by Onmanorama and Goodreturns
- West Bengal: West Bengal Finance (Audit) Department, notification 4188-F(P2), 27 November 2025
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