Dussehra / Vijayadashami in Delhi

Date and timing in this city

In Delhi, Dussehra falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and on Saturday 9 October 2027. The observance rests on Ashwin Shukla Dashami — the tenth tithi of the bright fortnight of Ashwin — and the dates above are computed for Delhi's own sunrise, in the Asia/Kolkata time zone. The day is dedicated to Rama and to Durga, and its meaning is the victory of good.

Why the date can differ from India

A tithi is a lunar day, and it does not begin and end with the sun. It is measured by the changing distance between the moon and the sun, so a tithi may start in the afternoon and end the next morning, or span parts of two ordinary days. Because of this, the moment of Dashami must be matched to the sunrise of a particular place before the observance is fixed.

Delhi's sunrise is not the same as sunrise in another part of the country. Where Dashami is current at the local sunrise, that day is taken as Dussehra; where it is not, the observance shifts. This is why the date printed for Delhi can differ from the date given for India as a whole, or from the date observed in another city. The difference is not an error in either reckoning — each is correct for its own location.

Communities also follow different reckonings of the lunar month. Some observe the month as ending at the new moon (amanta), others as ending at the full moon (purnimanta), and Smarta and Vaishnava practice may differ on which day is taken. Traditions differ here, and it is best to follow the calendar your family or local panchang keeps.

Where and how the community celebrates

Dussehra is observed pan-India, and Delhi takes part in that wider observance. In general terms, the day is kept as the victory of good: some read or hear the Ramayana, some recite passages from it, and some fast or take a simple meal. In many places the day includes the burning of effigies of Ravana, and Durga is honoured as well, since the same tenth day closes the Navaratri period. Households differ in how elaborate the observance is. No single form is required, and the day can be kept quietly at home as fully as in a large gathering.

Practical tips

• Confirm the date against a panchang computed for Delhi's sunrise rather than a general national listing.
• Note that the 2026 and 2027 dates fall on different weekdays, so plan the day accordingly.
• If your family follows a particular reckoning of the month, keep to it.
• For anything tied to your own chart, consult a qualified jyotishi.