Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, falls on Dashami tithi (tenth day) of Ashwin Shukla Paksha, immediately following Navratri. It celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the ten-headed demon king Ravana and, simultaneously, the triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The dual narrative — one Vaishnavite, one Shakta — converges on the theme of dharma prevailing over adharma.

Across North India, towering effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakaran are set ablaze in open grounds (Ramlila Maidan) after elaborate multi-day Ramlila performances. Delhi's Ramlila at Red Fort and the Ramnagar Ramlila near Varanasi are among the most iconic. In Mysore (Karnataka), the Dasara celebration features a grand procession with a caparisoned elephant carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. In Bengal, it marks Durga Visarjan — the immersion of the Durga idol with emotional farewells (Sindoor Khela).

The panchang prescribes that the Dashami tithi should prevail during the Aparahna kala (afternoon) — this is the Vijaya Muhurat, considered one of the three-and-a-half most auspicious moments in the Hindu calendar. New ventures, journeys, and undertakings initiated during this muhurat are believed to succeed.

Dussehra also carries martial traditions: weapons and tools are worshipped (Astra Puja / Ayudha Puja) in parts of South India, reflecting the Vedic reverence for instruments of righteous action. The festival closes the Navratri cycle and opens the countdown to Diwali, twenty days later.