Dussehra 2026: Vijayadashami Date, Vijay Muhurat, Shami Puja, and Ravan Dahan
July 14, 2026
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami or Dasara, is the victory festival that closes Sharad Navratri. In 2026, most North Indian calendars observe it on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The day is used for Aparahna-time victory pujas (Shami and Aparajita), Ayudha Puja in many regions, and evening Ramlila with Ravan Dahan. Timings below are for New Delhi, NCT. Muhurat shifts with local sunrise and sunset, so re-check Today's Panchang for your city.
Dussehra 2026 Key Timings (New Delhi)
| Event | 2026 date and time context |
|---|---|
| Vijayadashami / Dussehra | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Vijay Muhurat | 01:59 PM to 02:45 PM (about 45 minutes) |
| Aparahna Puja window | 01:14 PM to 03:30 PM (about 2 hours 16 minutes) |
| Dashami Tithi begins | 12:50 PM on October 20, 2026 |
| Dashami Tithi ends | 02:11 PM on October 21, 2026 |
| Shravana Nakshatra ends | About 06:02 PM on October 20, 2026 |
| Bengal Vijayadashami (alternate listing) | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 |
| Ravan Dahan | Evening / after sunset; local civic schedule |
Sharad Navratri opens on October 11 and reaches this tenth-day close. For the full nine-night table, see the Sharad Navratri 2026 guide in this series and the HinduLab Navratri page.
Vijay Muhurat: What It Is For
Vijay Muhurat is the preferred short victory window inside Aparahna on Dashami. Families and shops use it for:
- Starting auspicious work or travel
- Shami Puja and Aparajita Puja
- Seema Ullanghan / symbolic crossing of a boundary in some regions
- Placing or blessing tools, books, and vehicles where Ayudha Puja is done on this day
If you cannot use the exact 45-minute Vijay Muhurat, the wider Aparahna span is the traditional backup. Avoid treating random evening clock times as Vijay Muhurat unless a local panchang says so.
Useful HinduLab tools:
- Festival Calendar
- Dussehra festival guide
- Navratri festival guide
- Today's Panchang
- Monthly Panchang
- Choghadiya Today
- Abhijit Muhurat
Shami Puja
Shami Puja is one of the classic Vijayadashami rites. The Shami tree (Prosopis cineraria, also called Chhonkar, Banni, or Jammi in some regions) is worshipped for the removal of obstacles and for victory. Where Shami is unavailable, some traditions allow a substitute tree such as Ashmantak / Baheda.
Timing
For New Delhi in 2026, Shami Puja is scheduled on October 20 inside the same Aparahna / Vijay Muhurat framework:
- Vijay Muhurat: 01:59 PM to 02:45 PM
- Aparahna: 01:14 PM to 03:30 PM
Simple vidhi outline
- Bathe and wear clean clothes after morning routines.
- Visit a Shami tree if available, or use leaves / a designated altar substitute per family custom.
- Offer water, flowers, rice, kumkum, and incense.
- Pray for courage, clarity, and obstacle-free work.
- In some communities, Shami leaves are exchanged as a token of goodwill after the puja.
Aparajita Puja
Goddess Aparajita (“the unconquered”) is worshipped on Vijayadashami for success and safe undertaking of new journeys or duties. Tradition associates the day with Rama’s worship of the Goddess before the campaign against Ravana.
Timing
Same preferred window as Shami Puja: Aparahna on October 20, with Vijay Muhurat 01:59 PM to 02:45 PM as the strongest New Delhi slice.
Simple household practice
- Place a small image or symbolic representation of Devi on a clean cloth.
- Offer flowers, lamp, incense, and a simple sweet.
- Seek blessings for victory over inner and outer obstacles, then close with aarti.
Seema Avalanghan / Simollanghana (crossing a symbolic boundary) is practiced in some regions after these pujas as a mark of going forth with courage.
Ravan Dahan Timing
Ravan Dahan is the public burning of Ravana’s effigy at Ramlila grounds. It is not usually fixed as a short scriptural muhurat the way Vijay Muhurat is. Practical pattern:
- Main puja and Shami / Aparajita rites happen in the afternoon Aparahna window.
- Ramlila performances run through the afternoon and early evening.
- Ravan Dahan is commonly scheduled after sunset, when crowds can gather safely and the effigy is visible.
For 2026 planning: keep the afternoon free for Vijay muhurat rites, then follow your city Ramlila committee, municipal, or temple notice for the exact burn time. Fire safety, crowd control, and local bans can delay or relocate the event.
Why Dussehra Is Celebrated
Dussehra holds two intertwined victory stories:
- Rama’s victory over Ravana, celebrated through Ramlila and Ravan Dahan across much of North India
- Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, closing the Navratri / Durga Puja cycle
The shared theme is the triumph of dharma, knowledge, and disciplined power over arrogance and chaos. That is why the day is also used to bless tools, weapons, vehicles, and learning materials in Ayudha Puja customs.
Regional Variations
- North India: Ramlila, Ravan Dahan, Shami and Aparajita rites, family outings after the burn.
- West Bengal and East India: Durga Visarjan and Vijaya Dashami immersion processions; some panjikas place the festival day on October 21, 2026.
- South India: Ayudha Puja, Saraswati book worship, and Dasara processions (notably Mysore).
- Maharashtra and Karnataka: Shami / Banni leaf exchange and victory greetings.
- Nepal: Dashain continues as a multi-day family festival around the same lunar window.
How Families Usually Spend the Day
Morning
Complete any remaining Navratri obligations, clean the altar, and prepare materials for afternoon puja. If your family still has a Navratri fast open, confirm parana rules on the local panchang before eating.
Afternoon
Perform or attend Shami Puja and Aparajita Puja during Aparahna, ideally inside Vijay Muhurat. Businesses may open new ledgers or bless workplaces.
Evening
Join community Ramlila and Ravan Dahan where available, or keep a quieter home observance with lamps, sweets, and family visits. Follow local safety rules around fireworks and open flames.