Dussehra / Vijayadashami in Brussels

Dussehra / Vijayadashami in Brussels

Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, falls on Ashwin Shukla Dashami. It is associated with Rama and with Durga, and it is observed as the victory of good. In Brussels, the festival is reckoned by the city's own sunrise and by the tithi prevailing there, not by Indian clock time.

Date and timing in this city

For Brussels (Europe/Brussels time zone), the date of Vijayadashami is:

• 2026: Tuesday 20 October 2026
• 2027: Saturday 9 October 2027

These dates are the ones computed for Brussels's own sunrise. The observance belongs to Ashwin Shukla Dashami, and the day is centred on the Dashami tithi as it runs at that location.

Why the date can differ from India

The tithi is a lunar day, and it is measured from the positions of the Moon and the Sun. Because Brussels sits in a different time zone and at a different longitude from India, its sunrise occurs hours after India's. A tithi that begins or ends between those two sunrises can therefore be assigned to one date in India and to another in Brussels.

This is why families in the diaspora sometimes find that the Brussels date for Vijayadashami does not match the date being followed in India, or the date shown by a panchang computed for an Indian city. Neither is an error; each follows the sunrise and tithi of its own place. Where traditions differ — North and South, Smarta and Vaishnava, amanta and purnimanta reckonings — the sequence of months and the naming of the day can vary as well. It is best to follow the panchang of the place where you are observing, and to consult a qualified jyotishi for anything related to your personal chart.

Where and how the community celebrates

Dussehra is observed across India, and in Brussels the diaspora keeps the same essentials. Households mark the day with prayer to Rama or to Durga, with readings and recitation, and with the theme of the victory of good. Some observe a fast or a simple diet until the day's worship is complete; others gather with family and friends in the evening. In many homes the day closes the Navaratri period that precedes it, and the mood is one of quiet completion rather than spectacle.

Because community arrangements in Brussels change from year to year, this page does not name venues, temples, organisers or events. Local groups and family networks are the usual way to find out what is being arranged for a given year.

Practical tips

• Use the Brussels dates above — 20 October 2026 and 9 October 2027 — when planning the day locally.
• Check the local panchang for the Dashami tithi window if you wish to time prayer or a fast precisely.
• Expect the Brussels date to differ from the India date in some years; both follow their own sunrise.
• Keep the observance simple and in keeping with your family's tradition.
• For personal chart matters, speak with a qualified jyotishi.