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Dussehra 2026

दशहरा

Dussehra falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 in New Delhi, on Shukla Dashami.

Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami or “Victory Tenth”, comes right after the nine nights of Navratri. In much of north India it celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana, and elsewhere the goddess's victory over Mahishasura.

Why this date

It falls on Ashvin Shukla Dashami, the tenth lunar day of the bright fortnight, which is required to be in force in the Aparahna, the afternoon window. It's set within the same bright fortnight as Navratri and follows directly from it.

That’s 18 days later than 2 October 2025 last year. Why it jumped

Dashami begins
20 Oct, 12:51 PM
It ends
21 Oct, 2:12 PM
2026 date by city
New DelhiTue, 20 Oct
MumbaiTue, 20 Oct
KolkataTue, 20 Oct
ChennaiTue, 20 Oct
BengaluruTue, 20 Oct
HyderabadTue, 20 Oct
AhmedabadTue, 20 Oct
PuneTue, 20 Oct
JaipurTue, 20 Oct
LucknowTue, 20 Oct
PatnaTue, 20 Oct
VaranasiTue, 20 Oct
LondonTue, 20 Oct
New YorkTue, 20 Oct
San FranciscoTue, 20 Oct
TorontoTue, 20 Oct
SydneyWed, 21 Oct
SingaporeWed, 21 Oct
DubaiTue, 20 Oct
Port LouisTue, 20 Oct

Dates in bold differ from New Delhi’s. Calculated by rule; local practice can differ.

One festival, many stories

North IndiaRama defeats Ravana

Ramlila plays run through the nine nights and end with effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada going up in flames. UNESCO has listed the tradition of Ramlila. Lochtefeld gives this as one of the two charter myths. We haven't found Valmiki giving this date for the battle, so the day's link to Rama's victory seems to come from later tradition.

Folk beliefJames G. Lochtefeld, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Rosen, 2002), entry “Dussehra”; UNESCO, “Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana”
Bengal, Mysore and elsewhereThe goddess victorious

Lochtefeld's other charter myth is the Devi Mahatmya's: Durga's defeat of Mahishasura. In Bengal, Durga images are immersed on this day, and the former royal city of Mysore has a famous procession.

TextualDevi Mahatmya; James G. Lochtefeld, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Rosen, 2002), entry “Dussehra”
Pan-IndianThe Shami tree

In the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata, the Pandavas hide their weapons in a Shami tree before their year in disguise. On Dussehra, people in Maharashtra and elsewhere exchange leaves as “gold”, and rulers traditionally worshipped weapons. The hiding of the weapons is in the epic, but the link to this particular day comes from tradition.

Folk beliefMahabharata, Virata Parva
NagpurA different kind of victory

On Vijayadashami in 1956, at Nagpur, B. R. Ambedkar and hundreds of thousands of followers embraced Buddhism. Many Dalit Buddhists mark the day as Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, and they gather at Deekshabhoomi each year. This reminds us that the meaning of a festival date can be claimed afresh.

Historical

Common questions

What people do
  • Burning effigies of Ravana, in north India
  • Immersing Durga images, in Bengal
  • Worshipping tools, books and vehicles, in much of the south usually on Navami, the day before
  • Starting children on their letters in Kerala at Vidyarambham
Is Dussehra about Rama or Durga?

It can be either, and it depends on where you are. North India usually marks Rama's victory, and Bengal and many other regions mark the goddess's.

Do all Hindus burn Ravana on Dussehra?

No. Many places have no such custom, and communities in a few towns, some of which claim links to him, honour Ravana rather than burn him. In Kullu, the festival is a gathering of deities and goes on for days.

Does the Ramayana say Rama beat Ravana on Dussehra?

We haven't found that in Valmiki's text. The date comes from later tradition, the Ramlila above all, and has become so familiar that it feels like scripture.

Ask your elders

“Ask your family about the Ramlila of their childhood: who played Hanuman, and whether the costume ever fell apart. Ask whether anyone at home worshipped a tool, a sewing machine or a car around this day.”

Keep reading

Sources
  1. James G. Lochtefeld, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Rosen, 2002), entry “Dussehra”
  2. Devi Mahatmya (Markandeya Purana)
  3. Mahabharata, Virata Parva
  4. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list: “Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana” (2008)
  5. Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Dussehra”
  6. Dhananjay Keer, Dr. Ambedkar: Life and Mission (for the 1956 conversion)