Vijayadashami 2026 - Victory of good over evil. Ravana Dahan date and Aparajita Muhurat timings.
| Year | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Day | Aparajita Muhurat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 Oct 2024 | Sat | 02:20 PM – 02:57 PM |
| 2025 | 02 Oct 2025 | Thu | 02:15 PM – 02:52 PM |
| 2026 | 20 Oct 2026 | Tue | 02:23 PM – 03:00 PM |
| 2027 | 10 Oct 2027 | Sun | 02:18 PM – 02:55 PM |
| 2028 | 28 Sep 2028 | Thu | 02:12 PM – 02:49 PM |
| 2029 | 17 Oct 2029 | Wed | 02:21 PM – 02:58 PM |
| 2030 | 07 Oct 2030 | Mon | 02:16 PM – 02:53 PM |
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, falls on the tenth day (Dashami) of the bright fortnight of Ashwin - the day Lord Rama is said to have slain the demon king Ravana after nine days of battle, as narrated in the Valmiki Ramayana (composed roughly 500-300 BCE). The name "Dussehra" derives from the Sanskrit "Dasha-Hara" (slayer of ten heads), referring to Ravana's ten heads symbolising the ten vices: lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy, selfishness, injustice, cruelty and ego. The festival marks the victory of dharma over adharma and is observed across India in distinct regional forms.
In Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi, giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada - sometimes 60-80 feet tall - are burnt in public grounds to cheering crowds. Mysore Dasara is a UNESCO-recognised heritage celebration featuring a golden howdah elephant procession, with the illuminated Mysore Palace drawing over 7 lakh tourists annually over ten days. In West Bengal and Odisha, Dussehra coincides with the final day of Durga Puja, marked by the immersion (visarjan) of Durga idols in rivers. The day is a national gazetted holiday.
Because Vijayadashami is determined by the lunar tithi of Ashwin Shukla Dashami, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year - usually falling in October, sometimes late September. Muhurat for Ravana dahan must coincide with the Dashami tithi; when it does not fall until after sunset, traditions vary by region on whether to observe it a day earlier or later. This tool shows the correct date, dahan muhurta and Navratri end date for any year from 2024 onward.