Quick facts
- Date
- Tuesday, 20 October 2026
- Hindu date
- Shukla paksha Dashami
Ashwin - Tithi begins / ends
- 12:50 PM → 2:12 PM, 21 Oct
- Aparahna Kaal
- 1:14 PM – 3:30 PM
- Sunrise · Sunset (New Delhi)
- 6:25 AM · 5:47 PM
- Vikram Samvat
- 2083 (Gujarati: 2082)
Dates
| Year | Date | Hindu date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | Shukla paksha Dashami | Open in calendar |
| 2027 | Saturday, 9 October 2027 | Shukla paksha Dashami | Open in calendar |
Dates are for New Delhi. Dates that have already passed are not listed. Later years are added once they have been checked.
About Dussehra
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, falls on the tenth tithi (Dashami) of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, the day after Navratri ends. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, remembered in the north as Rama’s defeat of Ravana and in the east and south as the goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura.
Large effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are burned at dusk across northern India, and in many places the day follows days of Ramlila performances.
How the date is decided
Dussehra is kept on the Ashwin Shukla Dashami that is running in the afternoon (Aparahna), the Vijaya muhurta when the day’s victory ritual is performed. If Dashami covers the afternoon on two days, the day on which it is also present at sunrise is chosen.
How it is observed
- Worship weapons, tools and books (Shastra and Ayudha Puja), which many families do on this day.
- Attend a Ramlila finale or the burning of effigies in the evening.
- Start a new venture or lesson; the day is considered auspicious for beginnings.
Puja vidhi: how to do the puja
- In the aparahna (afternoon) time shown above, worship the Shami tree (Shami pujan) and Goddess Aparajita.
- Perform Shastra puja: clean and worship weapons, tools, books, instruments and vehicles, the things your work depends on.
- In many homes the Navratri kalash and barley shoots are honoured and the barley is worn or kept as a blessing.
- In the evening watch or take part in Ravana Dahan, the burning of Ravana's effigy.
- Visit elders for blessings and exchange Shami or Apta leaves as "gold".
Puja samagri checklist
Tick things off as you gather them; your list is kept on this device.
Katha: The victory of Rama
After Ravana carried Sita away to Lanka, Rama and Lakshmana, with Hanuman and the army of the vanaras, crossed the sea and fought a long war. On the tenth day of Ashwin's bright fortnight Rama killed Ravana, and dharma was restored.
The same day is remembered as the end of Durga's battle with Mahishasura, and as the day the Pandavas took back the weapons they had hidden in a Shami tree during their year in disguise, which is why the Shami is worshipped on Dussehra.
Aarti: Shri Ramchandra Kripalu
Read it in Roman letters
Goswami Tulsidas's hymn to Rama from the Vinay Patrika (16th century), sung as the Rama aarti. Words vary slightly between families.
Dussehra 2026 in other cities
| City | Date | Compared with New Delhi |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| London | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| New York | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Toronto | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Sydney | Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | 1 day later |
| Dubai | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | same as New Delhi |
| Singapore | Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | 1 day later |
| Johannesburg | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | same as New Delhi |
Frequently asked questions
When is Dussehra in 2026?
Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 (New Delhi). The tithi runs from 12:50 PM to 2:12 PM, 21 Oct.
When is Dussehra in 2027?
Dussehra 2027 falls on Saturday, 9 October 2027 (New Delhi).
Why does the date of Dussehra change every year?
Dussehra follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It is tied to Shukla paksha Dashami of the month of Ashwin, not to a fixed Gregorian date. A lunar year is about eleven days shorter than a solar year, so the date moves earlier by roughly that much each year, until a leap month (Adhik Maas) is added and it jumps back.
Is Dussehra on the same day everywhere?
Not always. In Sydney, Singapore the date differs from New Delhi, because tithis are read at local sunrise or sunset and these places are many hours away from India. Use the city table above, or the calendar with your own location.