Festival guide
Vijayadashami (Dussehra) 2026
विजयदशमी (दशहरा)
Vijayadashami (Dussehra) celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana, and Goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura.
- Date
- Tue, 20 October 2026
- Main muhurat
- Vijay Muhurat · 1:37 – 2:23 pm
Plan the day
Good times and times to avoid
· Varanasi time (IST)
Auspicious windows
- Abhijit Muhurat46m
- Brahma Muhurta50m
- Amrit Kalam1h 46m
Times to avoid
- Dur Muhurta46m
- Yama Gandam1h 26m
- Rahu Kaal1h 26m
- Dur Muhurta50m
Sun and moon
- Sunrise
- 5:58 am
- Sunset
- 5:26 pm
- Moonrise
- 1:54 pm
- Moonset
- 1:02 am
The festival day's almanac
Panchang for Tue, 20 October
- Tithi
- Navami, then Dashami
- Nakshatra
- Shravana
- Yoga
- Shula
- Karana
- Kaulava
- Paksha
- Shukla
- Masa
- Ashwina
- Tithi
- NavamiFrom Until Then Dashamiuntil
- Nakshatra
- ShravanaFrom Until
Choghadiya, day and night
Day
- RogAvoid
- UdvegAvoid
- ChalNeutral
- LabhGood
- AmritGood
- KaalAvoid
- ShubhGood
- RogAvoid
Night
- KaalAvoid
- LabhGood
- UdvegAvoid
- ShubhGood
- AmritGood
- ChalNeutral
- RogAvoid
- KaalAvoid
The story
Vijayadashami (Dussehra): significance and rituals
It marks the victory of good over evil and is one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar.
Rituals
Perform Shami Puja and Aparajita Puja during Vijay Muhurat. Worship weapons (Shastra Puja). Burn effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarna. Exchange Shami leaves (sona) as gold.
Local colour
Vijayadashami (Dussehra) in Varanasi
Varanasi's Ramnagar Ramlila — the world's oldest and most authentic — culminates on Dussehra with the grand burning of Ravana's effigy at Ramnagar Fort. Thousands gather at the fort grounds. Across the river in the old city, multiple Ramlila committees organize their own celebrations.
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