Dussehra / Vijayadashami in Chicago

Date and timing in this city

In Chicago, Dussehra — Vijayadashami — is observed on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and on Saturday 9 October 2027. The tithi is Ashwin Shukla Dashami, the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin. The city's time zone is America/Chicago, and the date above is the one computed for Chicago's own sunrise, not borrowed from an Indian calendar.

The day belongs to Rama and to Durga, and its meaning is the victory of good. In many homes the tenth day closes the nine nights of Navaratri; in others it stands on its own as Vijayadashami, a day for beginning something with a clear intention.

Why the date can differ from India

A tithi is a span of the moon's movement, not a clock day, and it begins and ends at its own moment. India and Chicago sit in different time zones, so the same tithi can fall on different civil dates in the two places. When Dashami is running at sunrise in India but has not yet reached Chicago's sunrise — or has already passed it — the observance shifts by a day. This is why families in the diaspora sometimes see a Chicago date that differs from the one relatives in India are keeping. The dates given here are the Chicago dates.

Traditions also differ in how the fortnight is reckoned. Some communities follow the amanta system, others the purnimanta; some observe Vijayadashami with Rama, others with Durga. Where customs differ, both are valid, and households usually keep the practice of their own lineage.

Where and how the community celebrates

Observance in Chicago follows the pattern of the wider diaspora. Homes are cleaned and decorated, a corner is set for the day's puja, and lamps are lit. Many read or listen to the Ramayana passages describing Rama's return to Ayodhya. Durga is honoured in her victory over the buffalo demon, and in Bengali households the day is marked with sindoor and farewell to the goddess after the puja days.

Families gather for a shared meal, exchange visits, and give sweets. Some mark the day as an auspicious time to begin a new account book, a study, or a piece of work. Ravana effigies and large public gatherings are part of the Indian scene; in Chicago the day is more often kept at home and in small community groups.

Practical tips

• Note the date for Chicago's sunrise, not India's — 20 October 2026 and 9 October 2027.
• Set the puja for the morning hours after sunrise, in keeping with your family's practice.
• If you are unsure which fortnight reckoning or which deity your family follows, ask an elder rather than guessing.
• For anything tied to your own chart — a muhurta for a new venture, for instance — consult a qualified jyotishi.