Dussehra 2026

What this countdown tracks

Dussehra 2026, also called Vijayadashami – the tenth day of Navratri marking the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and of the goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. It falls on Tuesday October 20, 2026, observed across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Indian diaspora.

About Dussehra

The Sanskrit name Dasha-hara means "remover of the ten" – the ten heads of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka who abducted Sita and was defeated by Rama after a long battle, as told in the Ramayana. The same date carries a parallel story in the Devi Mahatmya: the goddess Durga, riding a lion and wielding the weapons of every god, killed Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon, after a nine-day battle. The festival therefore stands for two simultaneous victories of dharma over adharma – of righteousness over evil – which is why it is also called Vijayadashami, "the tenth day of victory."

Dussehra is the climactic last day of Navratri, the nine-night festival of Durga that precedes it, and it sits at the centre of the Hindu autumn arc. The festival has been continuously observed in India for at least a thousand years – Mysuru's royal Dasara, traceable to the Vijayanagara kings in the 14th century and continued by the Wadiyar dynasty, is now a state-organized 10-day celebration that culminates in a procession of caparisoned elephants down Mysore Palace's grand boulevard. The ten-day Ramlila enactments staged across north India each evening of Navratri culminate on Dussehra with the burning of giant effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakaran, often filled with fireworks.

In Bengal, the same day closes Durga Puja with Vijaya Dashami – the immersion (visarjan) of Durga idols in rivers and tanks, and the smearing of vermillion among married women (sindoor khela).

How it's observed

Across north India, Dussehra is the day of the Ravana effigy burning – tall paper-and-bamboo effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran, and his son Meghnad are erected in public grounds, and at sunset Rama-actors from the Ramlila troupes shoot symbolic arrows that ignite fireworks inside the effigies, which collapse in flame. The Ramlila of Ramnagar in Varanasi, sponsored by the Maharaja of Banaras, has been performed for over 200 years and is now on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

In south India, the day is observed as Ayudha Puja – the worship of tools, weapons, vehicles, and books. In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, dolls are arranged in tiered displays (Bommai Kolu / Gombe Habba) for the nine days, and Vijayadashami is considered an auspicious day for new beginnings – children are introduced to formal learning (Vidyarambham, especially in Kerala), new business ventures are inaugurated, and musicians worship their instruments.

In Bengal, Vijaya Dashami closes Durga Puja: the goddess is bid farewell with sindoor khela (vermillion play among married women), processions to the river or tank, and the immersion of clay Durga idols. Sweets exchanged include nimki, narkel naru, and rasgulla.

Why this date specifically

Dussehra falls on the tenth day (Dashami) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu lunisolar month of Ashvin – the day immediately following the conclusion of Navratri. In 2026, Ashvin Shukla Dashami occurs on October 20 in Indian Standard Time, making Tuesday October 20 the universally observed Vijayadashami date. The Hindu calendar's roughly eleven-day annual drift against the Gregorian calendar pulls Dussehra back to October 9 in 2027 and September 27 in 2028.

What to watch for / notable observances in 2026

• Sunset on October 20 – Ravana effigy burnings at the Ramlila grounds across north India
• Ramlila of Ramnagar in Varanasi – the festival's most prestigious enactment
• Mysuru Dasara culmination – Jamboo Savari procession with caparisoned elephants
• Durga Visarjan in Kolkata, Howrah, and across West Bengal
• Vidyarambham in Kerala – children's formal start of learning
• Public holiday in India and Nepal; widely observed in the Indian diaspora
• Buying of vehicles, gold, and property considered especially auspicious on this day

Related festivals to track

Dussehra is the culminating tenth day of Navratri 2026 and the gateway to the Diwali fortnight that follows – Karwa Chauth 2026 and Diwali 2026 come close behind. The full autumnal arc lives at the Hindu festival hub.

FAQ

When is Dussehra in 2026? Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday October 20, 2026.

How is Dussehra observed? With Ravana effigy burnings at sunset, Ramlila enactments, Durga immersion in Bengal, Ayudha Puja in south India, and Mysuru Dasara processions.

Is Dussehra a public holiday? Yes, in India and Nepal as a gazetted public holiday.

What is the typical greeting? "Shubh Vijayadashami" or "Happy Dussehra" – in Bengal, "Shubho Bijoya."