Dussehra 2026 Date: Vijayadashami Shubh Muhurat, Ravan Dahan Time and Shastra Puja
Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 20 in the widely followed Vijayadashami calendar, while Bengal observes Vijayadashami on October 21. Check the Dashami tithi, Vijay Muhurat, Shastra Puja guidance and what to know about Ravan Dahan timing.
Editorial illustration for Dussehra 2026 Vijayadashami and Ravan Dahan
Table of Contents (15 sections)
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, will be observed on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 in the widely followed calendar for much of India. For Hyderabad, Drik Panchang lists the Vijay Muhurat from 1:57 PM to 2:44 PM IST, while in New Delhi it runs from 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM IST. Bengal Vijayadashami is listed separately for Wednesday, October 21.
That difference between October 20 and October 21 is important because readers will see both dates in festival calendars this year.
It does not necessarily mean one calendar is wrong.
Dashami Tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST on October 20 and continues until 2:11 PM IST on October 21. Different regional observances and panchang traditions therefore place particular Vijayadashami rituals on different days. Drik Panchang lists the main Vijayadashami observance on October 20 for Hyderabad and New Delhi while separately identifying Bengal Vijayadashami on October 21.
For readers planning Dussehra puja, Shami Puja, Shastra Puja or an evening Ravan Dahan event, the most useful approach is therefore to check the tradition followed by their family or temple and use timings calculated for their own city.
Key Takeaways
Principal Dussehra / Vijayadashami: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 for much of India.
Bengal Vijayadashami: Wednesday, October 21.
Recommended Reading
Related Stories & In-Depth Guides
Curated editorial perspectives matching this topic.
Shardiya Navratri 2026 begins on October 11. Check the Ghatasthapana muhurat, Day 1 puja guide, today’s orange colour, the full nine-day colour calendar and key dates through Dussehra.
Neither the Mamata Banerjee group nor the rival faction formally represented before the Election Commission by Arup Roy can use the All India Trinamool Congress name or its reserved symbol in the October 6 bypolls. The order is temporary while the ECI decides the larger party-control dispute under P
Hyderabad Vijay Muhurat: 1:57 PM – 2:44 PM IST.
New Delhi Vijay Muhurat: 1:59 PM – 2:45 PM IST.
Ravan Dahan: Evening of Oct 20 after sunset (local organisers set exact time).
Dussehra 2026 at a Glance
Dussehra / Vijayadashami:
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 for the widely followed observance across much of India.
Dashami Tithi begins:
12:50 PM IST on October 20.
Dashami Tithi ends:
2:11 PM IST on October 21.
Hyderabad Vijay Muhurat:
1:57 PM to 2:44 PM IST on October 20.
New Delhi Vijay Muhurat:
1:59 PM to 2:45 PM IST on October 20.
Bengal Vijayadashami:
Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Ravan Dahan:
Generally held on the evening of October 20 after sunset in communities following the October 20 Dussehra observance. There is no single nationwide clock time; local organisers determine their event schedule.
The Hyderabad and Delhi timings above are based on Drik Panchang's location-specific calculations.
Is Dussehra on October 20 or October 21 in 2026?
For most readers searching for the principal Dussehra or Vijayadashami date in India, Tuesday, October 20 is the relevant date.
Drik Panchang lists Vijayadashami on October 20 in Hyderabad, Delhi and numerous other Indian cities. Its Hyderabad calendar gives Dashami from 12:50 PM on October 20 until 2:11 PM on October 21.
The reason October 21 also appears in searches is partly regional.
Drik Panchang separately lists Bengal Vijayadashami on October 21. The Belur Math Durga Puja schedule reported for 2026 also places Vijaya Dashami rituals on October 21, illustrating why Bengali festival calendars can differ from the date used for the principal Dussehra observance elsewhere.
Readers should therefore avoid reducing the issue to a simple claim that October 20 is “correct” and October 21 is “wrong.”
A more accurate summary is:
October 20 is the principal Dussehra/Vijayadashami date under the widely followed calendar used across much of India.
October 21 is relevant to Bengal Vijayadashami and some regional observances.
This distinction is particularly useful for families living outside their home state, because online calendars may reflect different regional systems without clearly explaining the difference.
Dussehra 2026 Vijay Muhurat
Vijay Muhurat is a short auspicious period associated with Vijayadashami.
According to Drik Panchang, Hyderabad's Vijay Muhurat on October 20 is from 1:57 PM to 2:44 PM IST, a 47-minute period.
For New Delhi, the listed Vijay Muhurat is 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM IST.
These timings are close but not identical because panchang periods are calculated using local astronomical conditions, including sunrise and sunset.
That is also why readers in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad or another city should not automatically use a Delhi or Hyderabad muhurat.
The difference may be only a few minutes, but religious calendars are location-sensitive.
Hyderabad Dussehra 2026 Timing
For Hyderabad, Drik Panchang lists:
Vijayadashami: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Vijay Muhurat: 1:57 PM to 2:44 PM IST
Dashami begins: 12:50 PM on October 20
Dashami ends: 2:11 PM on October 21
Bengal Vijayadashami: Wednesday, October 21
Drik Panchang also places the wider Aparahna Puja period in Hyderabad from 1:11 PM to 3:31 PM for the separately displayed Bengal Vijayadashami calculation. Readers following a specific ritual tradition should use the relevant local panchang rather than treating every time shown on a festival calendar as interchangeable.
Delhi Dussehra 2026 Timing
For New Delhi, the Vijay Muhurat is listed from 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM IST.
Dashami begins at 12:50 PM on October 20 and ends at 2:11 PM on October 21.
Delhi is particularly associated with large Ramlila performances and public Ravan Dahan celebrations, but the timing of those programmes should not be confused with the afternoon Vijay Muhurat.
The puja muhurat is calculated through the panchang.
The actual time at which a Ravana effigy is burned depends on the individual event.
What Time Is Ravan Dahan in 2026?
There is no single Ravan Dahan clock time that applies throughout India.
For communities celebrating Dussehra on October 20, public Ravana Dahan programmes are generally held in the evening after sunset.
The exact time can differ according to the Ramlila schedule, venue, organising committee, security arrangements and local administration.
Current festival guides using the October 20 calendar similarly place Ravana Dahan on the evening of October 20 rather than assigning one nationwide exact minute.
For New Delhi, one current calculation places sunset at roughly 5:47 PM IST on October 20, but this should not be reported as the official Ravan Dahan time for every Delhi event. Individual Ramlila committees can schedule the burning later in the evening.
Readers planning to attend a public programme should check the announcement from the specific Ramlila committee, venue, district administration or local police closer to the event.
This distinction matters because searches for “Ravan Dahan time” often produce a panchang muhurat and an event time as though they are the same thing.
They are not.
Shastra Puja and Ayudha Puja on Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami is also associated with the worship of tools, weapons, instruments, machinery and objects connected with one's work or vocation.
The practice is often described as Shastra Puja in contexts involving weapons and as Ayudha Puja more broadly in several southern traditions.
Customs vary substantially by family, profession and region.
Some people worship tools of their trade, vehicles, books or machinery. Others perform Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja or rituals associated specifically with Vijayadashami.
Drik Panchang notes Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Seema Avalanghan among rituals traditionally associated with Vijayadashami and says these are performed during Aparahna according to the traditional division of the day.
For households wishing to perform Shastra Puja on October 20, the location-specific Vijay Muhurat can serve as an important reference where that matches the family's established tradition.
In Hyderabad, that Vijay Muhurat is 1:57 PM to 2:44 PM IST.
In Delhi, it is 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM IST.
However, families already following a temple, priest, sampradaya or regional panchang should continue to use the method prescribed by that tradition rather than replacing it with a generic internet schedule.
Why Is Dussehra Celebrated?
Dussehra carries several religious and cultural traditions across India.
In the Ramayana tradition, Vijayadashami is associated with Lord Rama's victory over Ravana after the battle in Lanka. Public Ramlila performances in many parts of northern India culminate in the burning of effigies representing Ravana and, at many venues, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna.
In the Shakta tradition, the festival is associated with Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura.
These traditions share a broad theme of the triumph of dharma and good over destructive forces, although the rituals and forms of celebration differ greatly from one region to another.
Why it is celebrated
Lord Rama tradition: Dussehra commemorates Rama's victory over Ravana.
Durga tradition: Vijayadashami marks the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura.
Wider meaning: The festival is commonly understood as a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and dharma over adharma.
Regional practices: Ramlila, Ravan Dahan, Durga visarjan, Shami Puja, Ayudha Puja, Shastra Puja and other traditions differ across India.
Why Bengal Observes Vijayadashami on October 21
Bengal's Durga Puja calendar needs to be understood separately from the shorthand “Dussehra date” used in many national festival calendars.
Belur Math's reported 2026 schedule places Maha Navami on October 20 and Vijaya Dashami on October 21, with Dashami rituals and immersion-related observances following that calendar.
That is consistent with Drik Panchang separately listing Bengal Vijayadashami on October 21 while giving October 20 as Vijayadashami for its Hyderabad and Delhi calendars.
This is why a reader in Kolkata may see October 21 while someone searching for Dussehra or Ravan Dahan in Delhi sees October 20.
Regional observance, rather than a simple calendar mistake, explains much of the difference.
Navratri Day 7 Is Tomorrow, October 17
Friday, October 16 is Day 6 in the widely followed 2026 Navdurga sequence, associated with Maa Katyayani.
Tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, is Day 7 and is dedicated to Maa Kalaratri.
Rajatheertha's existing Navratri guide lists the sequence as October 17 for Maa Kalaratri, October 18 for Maa Mahagauri and October 19 for Maa Siddhidatri, followed by the principal Vijayadashami observance on October 20.
Internal note: Insert the dedicated “Navratri Day 7 2026: Maa Kalaratri” Rajatheertha link here as soon as that article is live.
Readers can meanwhile refer to Rajatheertha's existing Navratri festival coverage for the ongoing 2026 sequence.
A Note for Indians Living Abroad
Festival timings published in IST should not simply be converted hour-for-hour for religious observance overseas.
Panchang calculations depend on the local sunrise, sunset and other astronomical conditions at the place where a ritual is being performed.
An Indian family in London, Toronto, New York, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney or another overseas city should therefore use a panchang calculated for that city when an exact muhurat is important.
The IST timings in this article are intended primarily for readers in India.
The October 20 versus October 21 regional distinction can also remain relevant to diaspora communities depending on whether they follow a North Indian, Bengali, South Indian or another family and temple tradition.
What to Check Before Planning Dussehra
If you are performing Vijayadashami puja at home, first confirm which regional panchang your family follows.
For Hyderabad readers using the Drik Panchang reference in this guide, the Vijay Muhurat is 1:57 PM to 2:44 PM IST on October 20.
For New Delhi, it is 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM IST.
If you are planning to attend Ravan Dahan, check the actual event organiser's schedule rather than assuming the Vijay Muhurat is the burning time.
If you follow Bengal's Durga Puja calendar, October 21 is relevant for Vijayadashami observances.
And if your family has an established time or ritual method for Shastra Puja, Ayudha Puja, Shami Puja or Aparajita Puja, that tradition should take precedence over a generic national festival guide.
Bottom Line
For much of India, Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 20.
Drik Panchang places Hyderabad's Vijay Muhurat at 1:57 PM to 2:44 PM IST and New Delhi's at 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM IST.
Dashami begins at 12:50 PM on October 20 and continues until 2:11 PM on October 21, helping explain why October 21 also appears in some calendars. Bengal Vijayadashami is specifically listed on October 21.
Ravan Dahan is generally held after sunset on October 20 in communities observing Dussehra that day, but there is no single nationwide official burning time. Local event organisers determine the actual schedule.
For Shastra Puja, Ayudha Puja and other Vijayadashami rituals, readers should use a location-specific panchang and continue following established family, temple or regional traditions.
Key Takeaway
Dussehra 2026: October 20 for most of India; Bengal observes October 21.
Check city-specific Vijay Muhurat and local Ravan Dahan timings.
The Rajatheertha Team publishes news, explainers, guides and updates across India and the world. Our coverage follows Rajatheertha's editorial, verification and corrections standards.
Navratri Day 4 falls on October 14, 2026 and is dedicated to Maa Kushmanda. Check today’s royal blue colour, malpua bhog, mantra, simple puja vidhi, Chaturthi timing and what comes on Day 5.
Navratri Day 3 falls on October 13, 2026 and is dedicated to Maa Chandraghanta. Check today’s red colour, mantra, bhog, puja vidhi and what comes on Day 4.
Navratri Day 2 falls on October 12, 2026 and is dedicated to Maa Brahmacharini. Here is today’s white colour, Dwitiya tithi, simple puja vidhi, mantra, traditional bhog and what comes on Day 3.
India/ Politics | Election Commission | Supreme Court10 min read
The Supreme Court has listed Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders’ petition over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The plea seeks disclosure of ECI records, an independent audit of voter deletions, safeguards against removal without notice and an interim s
The Election Commission’s interim freeze on the Trinamool Congress name and ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol has pushed rival factions to temporary identities. Mamata Banerjee has challenged the order in the Supreme Court, while the October 6 Nandigram bypoll has been further complicated by the withdrawal
Mumbai’s Santacruz observatory recorded 37.6°C on October 8, just days after the southwest monsoon withdrew from the city. Here is why Mumbai often turns unusually hot in October, what monsoon withdrawal changes and what the heatwave warning actually means.
0 Comments