Dussehra / Vijayadashami in Ayodhya

Date and timing in this city

In Ayodhya (अयोध्या), India, Dussehra / Vijayadashami is observed on Ashwin Shukla Dashami — the tenth tithi of the waxing fortnight of Ashwin. The date computed for Ayodhya's own sunrise is:

• Tuesday 20 October 2026
• Saturday 9 October 2027

Ayodhya follows the time zone Asia/Kolkata. The tithi is reckoned from local sunrise, which is why the observance here is tied to Ayodhya's own day rather than a single all-India clock. The day honours Rama and Durga, and marks the victory of good.

Why the date can differ from India

Dussehra is a pan-India observance, but the tithi is not a fixed civil date. Because Ashwin Shukla Dashami is calculated from sunrise at a given place, the day can fall differently in different regions. Ayodhya's sunrise is the reference used for the dates above.

Traditions also differ in how the lunar month is counted. Some communities follow the amanta reckoning, others the purnimanta; Smarta and Vaishnava practices may vary as well. For that reason, households and regions sometimes observe Vijayadashami on what looks like a different civil day. The dates given here are the ones computed for Ayodhya itself.

Where and how the community celebrates

Observance is general and pan-India in character, and Ayodhya is no exception. The day is associated with Rama and Durga and with the victory of good. Common threads include prayer and recitation, readings from the Ramayana, and gatherings that mark the close of the Navaratri period. Many devotees keep the day as one of reflection and gratitude rather than spectacle.

Because customs vary by family and lineage, the form of the observance differs from home to home. Some emphasise Durga, others Rama; some fast, others do not. These are living traditions, and the brief does not prescribe a single correct form.

Practical tips

• Treat the tithi, not the civil date alone, as the guide — here it is reckoned from Ayodhya's sunrise.
• If your family follows a particular amanta or purnimanta convention, keep to it; the two can fall on different days.
• Plan around Asia/Kolkata timings if you are coordinating with others in Ayodhya.
• For personal observance tied to your own chart, consult a qualified jyotishi.