Dussehra Countdown
Dussehra 2026 (Vijayadashami): Tuesday, 20 October
Dussehra 2026 is on Tuesday, 20 October. The Vijay Muhurat runs 1:59–2:45 PM in Delhi. Some calendars say the 21st, and in Bengal that's the day of Bijoya Dashami and the immersions. For Ravana Dahan and the Vijay Muhurat, plan around the 20th.
Checked by the festcountdown team against Drik Ganit panchang, last verified 17 September 2026.
Vijay Muhurat
- Vijay Muhurat1:59–2:45 PMWhat it means: the "victory" window, about 45 minutes in the early afternoon. Families use it to start anything they mean to succeed at.
- Aparahna window1:14–3:30 PMWhat it means: the wider afternoon period around Vijay Muhurat. Vijayadashami puja happens in the afternoon, not the morning.
- Dashami tithi20 Oct 12:50 PM → 21 Oct 2:11 PMWhat it means: the tenth lunar day covers the afternoon of the 20th and the sunrise of the 21st. That's why some calendars print 21 October.
Muhurat & Choghadiya calculator
Tuesday, 20 October 2026 · Vijayadashami · pick your city to update the times
Vijayadashami puja happens in the afternoon, so read the sunrise and sunset figures for your city. Pradosh Kaal is the evening window. On Dussehra that's roughly when the Ravana effigies are lit.
Day Choghadiya
Night Choghadiya
Sunrise, sunset, Pradosh Kaal and Choghadiya are worked out for the city you pick. Lagna windows such as Vrishabha Kaal are New Delhi times.
Dussehra 2026 kab hai? When is Vijayadashami?
दशहरा 2026 कब है? इस साल विजयदशमी मंगलवार, 20 अक्टूबर को है। नई दिल्ली में विजय मुहूर्त दोपहर 1:59–2:45 है।
Dussehra 2026 is on Tuesday, 20 October, Ashwin Shukla Dashami, the tenth lunar day of the bright half of Ashwin. Count ten days from Ghatasthapana on 11 October, with the 11th as day one, and you land here.
This year Dussehra shares its Tuesday with Navami. Navami runs until 12:50 PM, and Dashami takes over in time for the afternoon puja. The Navratri fast is broken (parana) that morning, and Bengali calendars keep Maha Navami that day. North Indian calendars keep the Maha Navami fast on Monday the 19th, with Ashtami. The Navratri page has the day-by-day list.
Why some calendars say 21 October
You'll probably see both dates this month, so here's the short version. The Dashami tithi starts at 12:50 PM on 20 October and ends at 2:11 PM on 21 October. It covers the whole afternoon of the 20th and the sunrise of the 21st.
Vijayadashami puja belongs in the afternoon (Aparahna), 1:14–3:30 PM in Delhi. The rule is to take the first day on which Dashami covers that window. In 2026 that's the 20th, and that's the day our Vijay Muhurat is for.
Calendars that print the 21st go by the tithi at sunrise. Bengali calendars also pick the 21st, so Bijoya Dashami, sindoor khela and the immersions in Bengal are on Wednesday, 21 October. For Ravana Dahan and the Vijay Muhurat, plan around Tuesday the 20th.
How Dussehra is celebrated
The day marks two victories, and which one you grew up with depends on where you grew up. Across most of North India, it's Rama's defeat of Ravana. Ramlila troupes act out the Ramayana in neighbourhood grounds for ten nights. On the tenth evening, tall effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad, stuffed with fireworks, go up in flames after sunset. Leave early if you're driving anywhere near a Ramlila ground that evening.
In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, the day is Vijaya Dashami, the last day of Durga Puja. It marks Durga's victory over Mahishasura. Married women play sindoor khela with vermilion, and the idols are carried to the river for immersion. In 2026 Bengali calendars put it on Wednesday, 21 October. In Karnataka, the day closes Mysore Dasara with its torchlit procession and an elephant carrying the goddess's golden howdah.
All three share one idea: evil is defeated, and the tenth day is a clean start. Families time new ventures, new vehicles, new account books and a child's first lessons to it.
Dussehra 2026 FAQ
When is Dussehra 2026?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat in New Delhi runs 1:59–2:45 PM. It closes Sharad Navratri, which starts with Ghatasthapana on Sunday, 11 October 2026.
How many days are left until Dussehra 2026?
The countdown at the top of this page counts to the Vijay Muhurat, which opens at 1:59 PM on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. It counts to the muhurat, not to midnight. Once Dussehra has passed, it moves on to Saturday, 9 October 2027.
Why do some calendars say Dussehra is on 21 October 2026?
Because Dashami covers part of both days. It starts at 12:50 PM on 20 October and ends at 2:11 PM on 21 October. Dussehra puja needs Dashami in the afternoon (Aparahna), and the 20th has it for the whole window. Calendars that print the 21st go by the tithi at sunrise. Bengali calendars also pick the 21st, so Bijoya Dashami and the immersions there are on Wednesday.
What is Vijay Muhurat and why is it so short?
Vijay Muhurat means "victory muhurat". The daylight hours are split into fifteen equal muhurats, and this is the eleventh. Each one is a slice of your city's sunrise-to-sunset, so in October it's about 45 minutes long and shifts a little from city to city. Families use it to start a business, sign papers, buy a vehicle or begin a child's lessons.
When is Dussehra 2027?
Saturday, 9 October 2027. Dashami runs from 9:01 AM on the 9th to 11:40 AM on the 10th, so the afternoon puja belongs to the 9th. Some calendars print Sunday the 10th, the day Dashami is running at sunrise. Plan around the 9th.
What is the difference between Dussehra and Vijayadashami?
Nothing. They're two names for the same day. Vijayadashami means "tenth day of victory". Dussehra is the everyday North Indian name, usually traced to dasha-hara, the removal of Ravana's ten heads. The name you use tends to follow the story told where you live.
What is celebrated on Dussehra?
Two victories, depending on where you are. Across most of North India, it's Rama's defeat of Ravana, with Ravana effigies burned after sunset at the end of ten nights of Ramlila. In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, it's Vijaya Dashami, the last day of Durga Puja, when the idols go for immersion. In Karnataka it closes Mysore Dasara.
Is Dussehra a good day to start something new?
Yes. It's one of the three and a half most auspicious days of the year (sade teen muhurat), along with Akshaya Tritiya and Gudi Padwa. Many families don't look for a separate muhurat on these days. If you want to time something exactly, like a new car or new account books, use the Vijay Muhurat.