Quick answer
- Dussehra 2026
- Tuesday, 20 October 2026
- Tithi
- Ashwin Shukla DashamiAswayuja Shukla Dashami (amanta)
- Observed for
- Victory, courage and auspicious beginnings
- Maha Navami & Ayudha Puja
- Tue, 20 Oct · Sunrise 06:11 AM
What is it? The tenth day after Navratri, celebrating the victory of good over evil.
Why is it observed? Rama defeated Ravana on this day, and Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura; it is also remembered as the day the Pandavas took back their weapons from the Shami tree.
How is it observed? Aparajita and Shami puja in the afternoon, worship of weapons and tools, beginning new learning, and the burning of Ravana’s effigy at dusk in the North.
Dussehra 2026 date & muhurat
| Dashami tithi begins | Tue, 20 Oct, 12:51 PM |
|---|---|
| Dashami tithi ends | Wed, 21 Oct, 02:12 PM |
| Sunrise | 06:11 AM |
| Vijay Muhurat | 01:58 PM – 02:44 PM |
| Aparahna Kaal | 01:11 PM – 03:31 PM |
| Sunset | 05:51 PM |
| Rahu Kalam (avoid) | 02:56 PM – 04:24 PM |
Day by day
- Tue, 20 Oct
Maha Navami & Ayudha Puja · Sunrise 06:11 AM
Tools, vehicles and books are worshipped; the Navami havan concludes Navratri.
- Tue, 20 Oct
Vijayadashami · Aparahna 01:11 PM – 03:31 PM
Aparajita and Shami puja in the afternoon; Ravan Dahan after sunset in North India.
Why is Dussehra observed?
Religious
Vijayadashami marks Rama’s victory over Ravana and the goddess’s victory over Mahishasura — two of the most beloved stories of dharma triumphing over adharma.
An auspicious day
Vijayadashami is one of the few days considered auspicious throughout, so it is chosen for starting education (Vidyarambham / Aksharabhyasam), new ventures and buying vehicles.
Spiritual
The ten heads of Ravana are often read as ten vices — lust, anger, greed, pride and the like — that each person must conquer.
Cultural
From Ramlila in the North to the Mysuru procession, Durga visarjan in Bengal and the exchange of Jammi leaves in Telangana, it is celebrated across India.
The victories remembered on Vijayadashami
Characters: Lord Rama, Ravana, Goddess Durga, Arjuna and the Pandavas
Ravana, the king of Lanka, carried Sita away to his kingdom. Rama, with Lakshmana, Hanuman and the army of vanaras, crossed the sea and fought Ravana’s forces for many days.
Before the final battle, Rama is said to have worshipped the goddess for her blessing. On the tenth day he faced Ravana and killed him, rescuing Sita — which is why effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada are burnt at dusk.
The same day is remembered as the goddess’s victory over Mahishasura, after nine nights of battle — so Navratri ends in Vijayadashami.
In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree before their year in disguise. When the year ended, Arjuna took them back from the tree to defend the kingdom of Virata — so the Shami tree is worshipped on Vijayadashami and its leaves exchanged as “gold”.
Message: However powerful wrongdoing becomes, truth and righteousness prevail in the end.
Dussehra puja vidhi
Before the puja
- 1Bathe and wear clean or new clothes.
- 2Clean and arrange the tools, books, instruments and vehicles to be worshipped.
During the puja
- 1In the afternoon (Aparahna), draw an eight-petalled lotus with rice or kumkum and worship Goddess Aparajita.
- 2Worship the Shami tree (or a branch) with water, turmeric, kumkum and flowers, and circle it.
- 3Offer prayers to Lord Rama and the goddess.
- 4Worship weapons, tools and vehicles with turmeric, kumkum and flowers if not done on Navami.
- 5Begin a child’s learning (Vidyarambham) at the Vijay muhurat if planned.
After the puja
- 1Exchange Shami (or Apta) leaves with family and friends as “gold”.
- 2Attend Ravan Dahan after sunset where it is celebrated.
- 3Visit elders and seek their blessings.
Dussehra puja samagri
Essential
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Turmeric, kumkum and akshat | A little of each | Puja and tilak |
| Flowers and garlands | As needed | Offering |
| Shami leaves or a Shami branch | A few | Shami puja |
| Lamp, incense and camphor | 1 set | Aarti |
| Fruits and sweets | As needed | Naivedya |
Optional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Aparajita flowers | — | Aparajita puja |
| Slate, rice plate and pen | — | Vidyarambham for a child |
Traditional / regional
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apta leaves | — | Exchanged as “gold” in Maharashtra |
| Jammi (Shami) leaves | — | Exchanged in Telangana after the Jammi puja |
Do's and don'ts
✅ Do
- Begin something new or auspicious — learning, a purchase, a project.
- Worship your tools of work with gratitude.
- Seek blessings from elders.
- Exchange Shami or Apta leaves with goodwill.
❌ Avoid
- Quarrel or speak ill of others on a day of victory.
- Damage Shami trees — take only a few leaves.
- Begin the puja during Rahu Kalam if it can be avoided.
Dussehra mantras
Shami prarthana
शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी।
अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
శమీ శమయతే పాపం శమీ శత్రువినాశినీ।
అర్జునస్య ధనుర్ధారీ రామస్య ప్రియదర్శినీ॥
śamī śamayate pāpaṃ śamī śatruvināśinī| arjunasya dhanurdhārī rāmasya priyadarśinī||
Meaning: Shami removes sin and destroys enemies; she held Arjuna’s bow and was dear to Rama.
Rama taraka mantra
श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम
తెలుగు లిపిలో
శ్రీ రామ జయ రామ జయ జయ రామ
śrī rāma jaya rāma jaya jaya rāma
Meaning: Victory to Sri Rama.
Shri Ramachandra Kripalu (Ram Stuti)
श्रीरामचन्द्र कृपालु भजु मन हरण भवभय दारुणम्।
नवकञ्ज लोचन कञ्जमुख कर कञ्ज पद कञ्जारुणम्॥
कन्दर्प अगणित अमित छवि नव नील नीरद सुन्दरम्।
पटपीत मानहुँ तडित रुचि शुचि नौमि जनक सुतावरम्॥
भजु दीनबन्धु दिनेश दानव दैत्य वंश निकन्दनम्।
रघुनन्द आनन्द कन्द कोशल चन्द्र दशरथ नन्दनम्॥
सिर मुकुट कुण्डल तिलक चारु उदारु अङ्ग विभूषणम्।
आजानु भुज शर चाप धर संग्राम जित खरदूषणम्॥
इति वदति तुलसीदास शंकर शेष मुनि मन रञ्जनम्।
मम हृदय कञ्ज निवास कुरु कामादि खलदल गञ्जनम्॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
శ్రీరామచన్ద్ర కృపాలు భజు మన హరణ భవభయ దారుణమ్।
నవకఞ్జ లోచన కఞ్జముఖ కర కఞ్జ పద కఞ్జారుణమ్॥
కన్దర్ప అగణిత అమిత ఛవి నవ నీల నీరద సున్దరమ్।
పటపీత మానహుఁ తడిత రుచి శుచి నౌమి జనక సుతావరమ్॥
భజు దీనబన్ధు దినేశ దానవ దైత్య వంశ నికన్దనమ్।
రఘునన్ద ఆనన్ద కన్ద కోశల చన్ద్ర దశరథ నన్దనమ్॥
సిర ముకుట కుణ్డల తిలక చారు ఉదారు అఙ్గ విభూషణమ్।
ఆజాను భుజ శర చాప ధర సంగ్రామ జిత ఖరదూషణమ్॥
ఇతి వదతి తులసీదాస శంకర శేష ముని మన రఞ్జనమ్।
మమ హృదయ కఞ్జ నివాస కురు కామాది ఖలదల గఞ్జనమ్॥
In English letters
Shri Ramachandra kripalu bhaju mana harana bhavabhaya darunam,
Navakanja lochana kanjamukha kara kanja pada kanjarunam.
Meaning: O mind, worship the compassionate Sri Ramachandra, who removes the terrible fear of worldly existence — lotus-eyed, lotus-faced, with lotus hands and feet. The hymn by Tulsidas describes his dark-cloud beauty and yellow garments, praises him as friend of the humble and destroyer of demons, and ends with Tulsidas asking Rama to dwell in the lotus of his heart and destroy desire and the other enemies within.
Dussehra across India
North India
Ramlila performances end in Ravan Dahan — the burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada at dusk.
Telangana
The Jammi chettu (Shami tree) puja, exchanging Jammi leaves as bangaram (gold), and looking for the palapitta (Indian roller), considered a good omen on Dasara.
Karnataka
The Mysuru Dasara’s Jamboo Savari, when the goddess Chamundeshwari is carried in procession on an elephant.
West Bengal
Bijoya Dashami: Sindoor Khela, the immersion of Durga, and visits to elders with sweets.
Maharashtra
Seemollanghan and the exchange of Apta leaves as gold.
Kerala
Vidyarambham — children write their first letters in rice.
Himachal Pradesh
The week-long Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami.
Perform Dussehra puja with Rutviju
Online pujas are performed at the temple in your name — you receive photos and video from the pandit. Offline pujas are performed at your home by a verified pandit.
Sources & method
- Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda, for Rama’s battle with Ravana.
- Mahabharata, Virata Parva, for the Pandavas’ weapons hidden in the Shami tree.
- Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) for the goddess’s victory over Mahishasura.
- Vinaya Patrika of Goswami Tulsidas for the Ram Stuti.
Dates and muhurtams on this page are calculated for Hyderabad from the positions of the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa, IST). Printed panchangams can differ by a minute or two, and a few festivals are kept on different days in different traditions — follow your family's panchangam and pandit where they differ.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dussehra 2026?
Dussehra 2026 is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Ashwin Shukla Dashami (Aswayuja Shukla Dashami in the amanta calendar) runs from Tue, 20 Oct, 12:51 PM to Wed, 21 Oct, 02:12 PM, IST, as calculated for Hyderabad.
Is the Dussehra date the same in every city?
Usually, but not always. Sunrise, sunset and moonrise differ from city to city, and the festival is kept on the day its tithi prevails at the right time of day, so the muhurtams — and occasionally the date — can change. Choose your city above to see local timings.
What is the Vijay muhurat?
The eleventh of the fifteen muhurtas of the day — about 45–50 minutes in the early afternoon — considered the best time to begin anything on Vijayadashami. The table above shows it for your city.
Is Ayudha Puja on Navami or Dashami?
Most of South India performs Ayudha Puja on Mahanavami; some families do it on Vijayadashami. Both dates are shown above.
Is Vijayadashami good for starting education?
Yes. Vidyarambham or Aksharabhyasam on Vijayadashami is a long tradition, especially in Kerala, Karnataka and the Telugu states.