Dussehra / Vijayadashami in Dwarka

Dussehra / Vijayadashami in Dwarka

Date and timing in this city

In Dwarka (द्वारका), India, Dussehra / Vijayadashami falls on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and on Saturday 9 October 2027. The observance is tied to Ashwin Shukla Dashami, the tenth tithi of the bright fortnight of Ashwin. Dwarka follows the Asia/Kolkata time zone.

The date given here is computed for Dwarka's own sunrise, so it reflects the tithi as it is current at the start of the day in this city rather than a single national calendar date. The day is associated with Rama and with Durga, and it marks the victory of good.

Why the date can differ from India

Vijayadashami is not a fixed solar date. It is fixed by the tithi, and the tithi is fixed by the moon's movement as seen from a given place. Because the tithi is measured against local sunrise, the day on which Ashwin Shukla Dashami is observed can shift from one city to another within the same country.

Dwarka's own sunrise is therefore the reference point for the date above. Traditions also differ in how the lunar month is counted: some regions follow the amanta reckoning and others the purnimanta, and Smarta and Vaishnava practice may differ in which moment of the tithi is taken as the deciding one. Where such differences exist, they are best resolved by the local panchangam and by a qualified jyotishi rather than by a single rule applied everywhere.

Where and how the community celebrates

The observance is pan-India in scope, and Dwarka takes part in it as a Hindu pilgrimage town on the western coast. The day is kept as the victory of good, with Rama and Durga both honoured in the wider tradition.

Households and communities generally mark it with prayer, recitation and the reading of the associated epic narratives, and with gatherings that retell the story of the day. Because customs vary by family, region and sampradaya, the specific form of the observance in any one home or neighbourhood will differ.

Practical tips

• Check the local Dwarka panchangam for the exact tithi window on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and Saturday 9 October 2027, since the observance is tied to sunrise in this city.
• Plan around the tithi rather than assuming the date matches another part of India.
• If your family follows a particular sampradaya, follow its convention for the amanta or purnimanta month.
• For anything specific to your own chart or personal observance, consult a qualified jyotishi.