Dussehra 2026 Date, Shubh Muhurat, Puja Vidhi & Significance

Dussehra is a grand Hindu festival celebrated across the country with great happiness and enthusiasm. Known as Vijayadashmi, the festival signifies that dharma (righteousness) prevails over adharma, goodness over wrongdoing (naitikta over anaitikta) and good over evil.

Dussehra, also known as Dussera or Dasara, marks the culmination of the 9 days of Navratri, and this year it falls on 20th of October. The festival is celebrated with different rituals across India and in varied ways.

Vijayadashmi, or the Dussehra festival, is also considered auspicious for a new beginning, learning new skills, shifting to new places and starting a new venture. The blog covers all the important details of the festival, including Dussehra 2026 dates and time.

Dussehra 2026 Date

As the festival of Dussera draws near, people often want to know when is Dussehra in 2026? Here are the details of key dates and muhurat of Dussehra and its associated rituals.

In 2026, Dussehra falls on 20th of October 2026. Dashami Tithi begins at 12:50 PM on Oct 20, 2026, and ends on 21st of October at 02:11 PM.

Dussehra 2026 Puja Muhurat

Vijay Muhurat: 01:59 PM to 02:45 PM
Aparahna Puja Time: 01:14 PM to 03:30 PM
Durga Visarjan Muhurat (idol immersion muhurat): 01:14 PM to 03:30 PM
Abujha Muhurat: 01:59 PM to 02:45 PM
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapan): 11th October, 2026
Ayudha Puja Muhurat: 02:54 PM to 03:45 PM

Important Notes: All dates mentioned above are as per New Delhi, IST (Indian Standard Time). Although it may vary slightly region by region, for the exact muhurat check the local panchang of your city.

City-Wise Dussehra Muhurat: Check local Dussehra Muhurat 2026

City	Dussehra Aparahna Muhurat	Vijay Muhurat	Durga Visarjan (Idol Immersion Muhurat)
New Delhi	01:14 PM to 03:30 PM.	01:59 PM to 02:45 PM	01:14 PM to 03:30 PM
Gurugram	01:15 PM to 03:31 PM	02:00 PM to 02:46 PM	01:15 PM to 03:31 PM
Patna	12:43 PM to 03:00 PM	01:29 PM to 02:14 PM	12:50 PM to 03:00 PM
Mumbai	02:19 PM to 03:06 PM	01:33 PM to 03:53 PM	01:33 PM to 03:53 PM
Chandigarh	01:15 PM to 03:31 PM	02:00 PM to 02:46 PM	01:15 PM to 03:31 PM
Kulu	01:14 PM to 03:29 PM (21st of October)	01:59 PM to 02:44 PM PM (20th of October)	01:14 PM to 03:29 PM (20th of October)
Kolkata	01:17 PM to 02:03 PM (21st of October 2026)	01:17 PM to 02:03 PM (20th October 2026)	12:50 PM to 02:49 PM (20th October 2026)
Ranchi	01:29 PM to 02:15 PM (20th October 2026)	12:42 PM to 03:01 PM (21st of October 2026)	12:50 PM to 03:01 PM (20th October 2026)
Mysore	01:19 PM to 03:41 PM (21st of October 2026)	02:06 PM to 02:53 PM (20th October 2026)	01:19 PM to 03:41 PM (20th October 2026)
Chennai	01:04 PM to 03:26 PM (21st of October 2026)	01:51 PM to 02:39 PM (20th October 2026)	01:04 PM to 03:26 PM (20th October 2026)
Bengaluru	01:15 PM to 03:37 PM (21st of October 2026)	01:15 PM to 03:37 PM (20th of October 2026)	01:15 PM to 03:37 PM (20th October 2026)

Does Dussehra 2026 fall on 20 October or 21 October?

Dussehra, or Vijayadashmi, marks the dashmi (tenth) tithi of the Aswin month during the bright half moon (shukla paksha) according to the Hindu lunar calendar. In 2026, Dashmi tithi spans from 20th of October to 21st of October afternoon.

As the local sunrise and sunset timings vary across regions, in many cities the festival will be observed on 21st of October 2026. For example, Dussehra in West Bengal (Bijoydashmi) and much of the eastern region will be observed on the 21st.

Also in Mysore, the official Mysore Dasara festival is held for 11 days, and the grand celebration with the elephant procession falls on the 21st of October 2026.

Why Do We Celebrate the Dussehra Festival

Dasara commemorates two ancient legends that celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Dussehra is associated with two major legends. As per the sacred Hindu scriptures, Dussehra is celebrated in memory of the mythological killing of Ravana by lord Ram, who abducted Maa Sita. On this auspicious day, this epic sight is presented through Ramleela, widely held in the northern part of India.

Another Dussehra story narrates the killing of Mahishasura by Goddess Durga to protect the divine existence. This led to the celebration of the Vijayadashmi festival, where the tableau portraying Goddess Durga’s battle with evil is widely observed across Bengal and other South and East Indian regions. To gain an in-depth insight into the history of Dussehra and its tales, click here- Why Do We Celebrate Dussehra Every Year

At its core, Dasara reflects the victory of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (evil).

The significance of Dussehra lies in its symbolism of the victory of virtue over evil, and thus it is called Vijayadashami. This is also a reason the day is traditionally regarded as an auspicious occasion for new beginnings, including starting a business, pursuing studies, or making a significant purchase. Families or individuals wait for the day to start their dream project; they also use it to make any significant purchase they had long been hoping for.

What to Purchase in Dussehra

Dussehra, or Vijayadashmi, is also considered a significant day for buying something; apart from watching Raamleela and being part of the regional tradition, people visit shops and malls to purchase something new. Depending on the family and tradition, people buy jewellery, gold, silver, vehicles, new clothes, or electronic items.

In the southern part, Ayudh Puja is observed, where people buy and worship their tools they use for their daily work. The purchase of machinery items like phones and laptops is also common. In many regions, children are given their first slate and pencil. Many families bring new deity idols and puja items like thali, sankh (conch shell), and ghanti (bell) to be kept in their home’s temple.

Conclusion

Dussehra is one of the most prime hindu festivals that marks the victory of dharma over adharma. The festival is celebrated across India with varied traditions where culture fiesta seeks the attraction of natives and tourists. Ramleela and the killing of Mahisura by goddess – Durga is performed and visualized through character plays across the country on Vijayadashmi. In 2026, Dussehra falls on 20th of October and extends to 21st of October in some parts like Bengal, Mysore etc. This guide compiles the important highlights of the festival including its dates, story, tithi and others. May the Dussehra inspire wisdom and the strength to stand for righteousness.