Dussehra 2026 Falls on October 20: Timings and Celebrations

India marks Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, on Tuesday, October 20. The festival closes the nine nights of Navratri and marks the victory of good over evil: in the north, Rama's defeat of the demon king Ravana; in the east, the goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura at the end of Durga Puja.

Political leaders began posting greetings on Monday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called Vijayadashami a reminder of Rama's ideals and urged people to give up ego and negativity. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also posted festival greetings.

Dates and timings

The tenth lunar day, Dashami tithi, begins at 12:50 p.m. IST on October 20 and ends at 2:11 p.m. on October 21. For New Delhi, the Vijay Muhurat, the short window held most auspicious for Vijayadashami rites, runs from 1:59 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on October 20. The Aparahna Puja period runs from 1:14 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Timings shift by city, and local panchangs carry the exact windows for each place.

Most of India celebrates on October 20. West Bengal and parts of eastern India mark Bijoya Dashami on October 21, when Durga idols are carried to rivers and immersed after the Sindoor Khela ritual. Nepal also observes Bijaya Dashami on October 21. Ravana Dahan, the burning of Ravana effigies, happens after sunset on October 20 in most northern towns, at times set by local organisers.

Dussehra is a public holiday across most of India. Schools, banks and government offices close in most states, and Indian stock markets stay shut for the festival.

How the country celebrates

In Delhi and across the north, Ramlila performances that retell the Ramayana end with Ravana Dahan. Large effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghanad are burned in open grounds. Delhi's Luv Kush Ramlila at the Red Fort grounds is one of the oldest, and the Ramlila ground at Dwarka has a Ravana effigy reported at 221 feet this year.

In Kolkata and the east, the day carries a different mood. Durga Puja ends with farewell rituals for the goddess, married women in red and white saris play Sindoor Khela, and processions carry the idols to the Hooghly for immersion, most of them on the Bijoya Dashami schedule of October 21.

Mysuru in Karnataka holds its royal procession, with decorated elephants moving through streets below a lit palace. In western India, people exchange apta leaves as a symbol of gold and visit elders for blessings. Across regions, families perform Shami Puja and Aparajita Puja, exchange sweets and mark the day as an auspicious start for new work and learning.

What happens next

Celebrations peak on Tuesday evening with Ravana Dahan in the north and continue into Wednesday in the east with idol immersion. The festival also opens the run toward Diwali, which follows about three weeks later.