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.
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.