Dussehra 2026
Dussehra 2026 falls on in Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, computed for local sunrise).
Two dating conventions exist for Dussehra. This site dates the festival by Udaya Tithi (the tithi current at local sunrise), anchored to the official Rashtriya Panchang. Calendars that date it by the afternoon Aparahna watch observe it on . Observance follows family and temple tradition.
Dates are computed for Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
About Dussehra
Vijayadashami — Dussehra — closes the ten days of the Durga and Rama festivals. In the north, towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are burned at dusk; in Mysuru the day crowns the Jamboo Savari elephant procession; in Bengal it is Bijoya Dashami, when clay idols are carried to the river for immersion.
The afternoon aparahna is the classical window for Shami and Aparajita puja, and the day is counted among the most auspicious to begin anything new — journeys, ventures, and especially a child’s first lessons, the vidyarambha.
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Day details for
| Tithi at sunrise | Sukla Dasami |
|---|---|
| Tithi window | 12:50 (-1 day) – 14:11 |
| Nakshatra | Dhanistha |
| Sunrise | 06:25 IST |
| Sunset | 17:45 IST |
| Moonrise | 14:50 |
| Moonset | 01:25 |
| Madhyahna (local noon) | 12:05 |
| Pradosh Kaal (2 Muhurta after sunset) | 17:45 – 19:21 |
| Nishita Kaal (8th of 15 night divisions) | 23:40 – 00:31 (+1 day) |
All times are for Delhi, India (IST). The festival-specific observance anchor for this page is Udaya Tithi, computed for local sunrise.
Year comparison
| Year | Date | Weekday | Tithi at sunrise (window) | Dating anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday | 12:50 (-1 day) – 14:11 | Udaya Tithi, computed for local sunrise | |
| 2027 | Sunday | 09:02 (-1 day) – 11:41 | Udaya Tithi, computed for local sunrise |
Other years
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Methodology and reference
Dates on this page are computed astronomically — sidereal solar and lunar longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — and dated by the classical rules of Dharmasindhu and Muhurta Chintamani (Udaya Tithi, Pradosh-vyapini and Aparahna conventions as applicable). Every value is regression-checked against Rashtriya Panchang, the official almanac compiled by Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) in Kolkata; the full method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Dussehra in 2026?
- Dussehra 2026 falls on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 in Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, computed for local sunrise).
- What is Dussehra?
- Vijayadashami — Dussehra — closes the ten days of the Durga and Rama festivals. In the north, towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are burned at dusk; in Mysuru the day crowns the Jamboo Savari elephant procession; in Bengal it is Bijoya Dashami, when clay idols are carried to the river for immersion.
- How is Dussehra observed?
- The afternoon aparahna is the classical window for Shami and Aparajita puja, and the day is counted among the most auspicious to begin anything new — journeys, ventures, and especially a child’s first lessons, the vidyarambha.
- Why might Dussehra fall on a different day elsewhere?
- Observance dates follow the tithi current at local sunrise, so cities with different sunrise times can observe a day earlier or later. Vaishnava calendars also shift dates when a tithi touches no sunrise (kshaya).
- Why do some calendars show a different Dussehra date in 2026?
- This site dates the festival by Udaya Tithi (the tithi current at local sunrise), anchored to the official Rashtriya Panchang. Calendars that date it by the afternoon Aparahna watch observe it on 2026-10-20. Both readings are genuine traditions; observance follows family and temple custom.