Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 in Australia, City by City: Dates, Events and Vijay Muhurat
A city-by-city guide for Telangana and Telugu families in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin and the Gold Coast: the nine days of Bathukamma, why Saddula Bathukamma can be 18 or 19 October, why Dasara is 21 October in the east but 20 October in Perth, and local Vijay Muhurat windows.
A city-by-city guide for Telangana and Telugu families in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin and the Gold Coast: the nine days of Bathukamma, why Saddula Bathukamma can be 18 or 19 October, why Dasara is 21 October in the east but 20 October in Perth, and local Vijay Muhurat windows.
Quick answer: Bathukamma 2026 runs from Saturday 10 October (Engili Pula Bathukamma) to Sunday 18 October (Saddula Bathukamma) on the Telangana calendar. Australian panchangs list Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October, so you will see Saddula Bathukamma on both the 18th and the 19th. Dasara (Vijayadashami) is Wednesday 21 October in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin, but Tuesday 20 October in Perth. Vijay Muhurat is 2:51–3:43 PM in Sydney and 3:18–4:11 PM in Melbourne. No Australian Bathukamma event had a confirmed 2026 date when we last checked.
Australia's Telugu community has grown quickly, and Bathukamma is now celebrated in every state capital, from community halls in Western Sydney and Melbourne's south-east to parks in Brisbane and Perth. The Australian twist in 2026 is that the calendar splits: the Bathukamma finale and Dasara do not fall on the same day across the country. This guide explains why, gives the Vijay Muhurat for each city and sets out what to expect from local associations. For Dussehra across Australia more broadly, see our Dussehra 2026 Australia city-by-city guide.
Bathukamma and Dasara 2026: Australian dates at a glance
| Occasion | Eastern states and territories | Perth (WA) |
|---|---|---|
| Engili Pula Bathukamma (day 1) | Sat 10 Oct | Sat 10 Oct |
| Navratri begins | Sun 11 Oct | Sun 11 Oct |
| Saddula Bathukamma, Telangana calendar | Sun 18 Oct | Sun 18 Oct |
| Durga Ashtami, Australian panchang | Mon 19 Oct | Mon 19 Oct |
| Maha Navami / Ayudha Puja | Mon 19 Oct | Mon 19 Oct |
| Dasara / Vijayadashami | Wed 21 Oct | Tue 20 Oct |
| Diwali | Sun 8 Nov | Sun 8 Nov |
"Eastern" here means New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory — every capital except Perth.
Why Australia has two dates for Saddula Bathukamma
Ashtami tithi begins at 8:27 AM IST on 18 October. East of India, the clock shift pushes that start time well past local sunrise, so Australian panchangs (Drik Panchang for Australia among them) list Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October. Telangana's own calendar keeps Durga Ashtami and Saddula Bathukamma on Sunday 18 October.
- If you follow the Telangana calendar (as most Telangana families and associations do), Saddula Bathukamma is Sunday 18 October, which is conveniently a weekend.
- If you follow your local temple, Durga Ashtami pujas are likely on Monday 19 October.
- Community events are often on whichever weekend the hall is available, before or after these dates.
Both dates are correct for what they measure. We show both throughout this guide so you can plan around your family's practice.
Why Dasara is 21 October in the east but 20 October in Perth
Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October. In Sydney that start time becomes 6:20 PM on Tuesday 20 October (a little earlier on the clock in Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin, but still after the afternoon Vijay Muhurat has passed), so the first full Dashami afternoon is Wednesday 21 October. Perth, three hours behind Sydney in October, sees Dashami begin at 3:20 PM on Tuesday 20 October and keeps the 20th as Dasara.
Even in Perth, the calculated Vijay Muhurat (2:11–3:03 PM) ends before Dashami begins at 3:20 PM. Perth readers should use the later part of the Aparahna period or follow their temple's published timing.
Vijay Muhurat 2026 by Australian city
These windows are local time and account for daylight saving where it applies: New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, South Australia and Tasmania moved to daylight time on 4 October, while Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia stay on standard time.
| City | State / territory | Vijay Muhurat (local) | Dasara date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | New South Wales | 2:51–3:43 PM | Wed 21 Oct | |
| Melbourne | Victoria | 3:18–4:11 PM | Wed 21 Oct | |
| Brisbane | Queensland | 1:41–2:32 PM | Wed 21 Oct | No daylight saving in Queensland |
| Gold Coast | Queensland | 1:40–2:31 PM | Wed 21 Oct | |
| Canberra | ACT | 2:59–3:52 PM | Wed 21 Oct | |
| Adelaide | South Australia | 3:11–4:04 PM | Wed 21 Oct | |
| Hobart | Tasmania | 3:10–4:04 PM | Wed 21 Oct | |
| Darwin | Northern Territory | 2:35–3:25 PM | Wed 21 Oct | |
| Perth | Western Australia | 2:11–3:03 PM | Tue 20 Oct | Window ends before Dashami begins (3:20 PM); use the later Aparahna period or your temple's timing |
Do not use India's time. India's Vijay Muhurat is 1:59–2:45 PM IST on 20 October. Converted to Australian time it falls outside every local Vijay Muhurat window in the table above — and in the eastern states it lands on Tuesday evening, the day before Dasara. It is never the right window in Australia.
Confirmed and expected events in Australia, October 2026
No Bathukamma event in Australia had a confirmed 2026 date when we last checked. The two events below are Dussehra and Durga Puja celebrations from our confirmed list; both are marked † because they come from third-party event sites — listed by third-party sites, confirm with the organiser before you travel.
| Date | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 18 Oct | Saddula Bathukamma (Telangana calendar) | Worldwide, at home and in community groups |
| Sat 24 Oct | Dussehra Mela, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan, free † | Epping Soccer Stadium, Melbourne |
| Sat 24 Oct | VMS Durga Puja, free † | St Marys Memorial Hall, Sydney |
Telangana associations that usually host Bathukamma
- ATSA: usually hosts — 2026 date not yet announced.
- ATF: usually hosts — 2026 date not yet announced.
- Melbourne Telangana Forum (MTF): usually hosts — 2026 date not yet announced.
- Telangana Association of Queensland (TAQ): usually hosts — 2026 date not yet announced.
Follow these groups' social media pages, and ask at your local Telugu association or temple. Smaller cities often have a single combined Telugu Bathukamma and Dasara evening.
City by city
Sydney (NSW)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 2:51–3:43 PM. Sydney has the country's largest Telugu population, concentrated in Western Sydney and the Hills, and Bathukamma gatherings are usually held in community halls and parks on a weekend near Saddula Bathukamma. The Sri Venkateswara Temple at Helensburgh is a major focus for Navratri and Dasara. A VMS Durga Puja at St Marys Memorial Hall on Saturday 24 October is listed by third-party sites (†) — confirm with the organiser.
Melbourne (Victoria)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 3:18–4:11 PM. The Melbourne Telangana Forum usually hosts a Bathukamma celebration (2026 date not yet announced). The Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple at Carrum Downs and Melbourne's Sri Durga Temple hold Navratri programmes; check their websites for 2026 timings. The Dussehra Mela at Epping Soccer Stadium on Saturday 24 October is listed by third-party sites (†).
Brisbane (Queensland)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 1:41–2:32 PM — noticeably earlier than Sydney because Queensland stays on standard time. The Telangana Association of Queensland usually hosts Bathukamma (2026 date not yet announced).
Gold Coast (Queensland)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 1:40–2:31 PM. Many Gold Coast families travel to Brisbane events; smaller local gatherings are organised through community groups.
Canberra (ACT)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 2:59–3:52 PM. Canberra's Telugu community is smaller but close-knit; check with local associations and temples for a combined Bathukamma and Dasara event.
Adelaide (South Australia)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 3:11–4:04 PM. Adelaide is half an hour behind Sydney. Ask your local Telugu association for the 2026 Bathukamma date.
Perth (Western Australia)
Dasara is Tuesday 20 October — a day earlier than the rest of Australia. The calculated Vijay Muhurat is 2:11–3:03 PM, but it ends before Dashami begins at 3:20 PM, so use the later part of the Aparahna period or your temple's published timing. Perth's Telangana families usually hold Bathukamma on a weekend; check local association pages.
Hobart (Tasmania)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 3:10–4:04 PM. Hobart's community is small, so many families celebrate Bathukamma at home or join a combined Indian community event.
Darwin (Northern Territory)
Dasara is Wednesday 21 October; Vijay Muhurat 2:35–3:25 PM. Darwin has no daylight saving and is half an hour behind Brisbane. Check with local Indian associations for Bathukamma gatherings.
Regional centres
For Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Toowoomba and other regional cities, use the date for your state and the nearest capital's window as a guide, and confirm with your temple; we have not calculated separate windows for these cities.
The nine days of Bathukamma
Bathukamma — "come alive, Mother" — is Telangana's festival of flowers in honour of Goddess Gauri. Women stack seasonal flowers in concentric rings on a brass plate (tambalam), crown the stack with a small turmeric Gauramma, sing in circles around it in the evening and finally immerse it in water. Each of the nine days has a name and an offering:
| Day | Date | Name | Traditional offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 10 Oct | Engili Pula Bathukamma | Begins on Mahalaya Amavasya; sesame and rice-flour offerings |
| 2 | Sun 11 Oct | Atukula Bathukamma | Flattened rice (atukulu) with jaggery |
| 3 | Mon 12 Oct | Muddapappu Bathukamma | Soft-cooked lentils, milk and jaggery |
| 4 | Tue 13 Oct | Nanabiyyam Bathukamma | Soaked rice with milk and jaggery |
| 5 | Wed 14 Oct | Atla Bathukamma | Atlu (pancakes) offered |
| 6 | Thu 15 Oct | Aligina Bathukamma | Traditionally a pause day with no offering |
| 7 | Fri 16 Oct | Vepakayala Bathukamma | Fried rice-flour balls shaped like neem fruit |
| 8 | Sat 17 Oct | Vennamuddala Bathukamma | Butter, ghee, sesame and jaggery |
| 9 | Sun 18 Oct | Saddula Bathukamma | Grand finale with several rice dishes (saddulu) and immersion |
Offerings differ between families and districts. The ninth day, Saddula Bathukamma, has the biggest stacks and a feast of rice dishes — curd rice, tamarind rice, lemon rice, coconut rice and sesame rice are common — plus maleeda, a sweet of crumbled roti with jaggery and ghee.
How Bathukamma is celebrated in Australia
- Flowers: tangedu (yellow senna) and gunugu (celosia), the classic Telangana flowers, are rarely available. Spring in Australia helps: chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies and roses are easy to find at markets and florists. Some families grow marigolds for the season.
- Immersion: putting flowers into rivers, lakes or the sea is often restricted by councils. Associations usually arrange a tank or pool for a symbolic immersion and then compost or dispose of the flowers. At home, a tub of water in the garden is fine.
- Weekends: the big community Bathukamma is almost always a Saturday or Sunday. In 2026 Saddula Bathukamma (18 October) is itself a Sunday.
- Songs and dress: the "Bathukamma Bathukamma uyyalo" songs, sarees and langa voni are central. Groups often share song lyrics so that children raised in Australia can sing along.
- Food: potluck saddulu (rice dishes) and maleeda are typical at community events; check whether your organiser wants home-cooked contributions.
Dasara traditions for Telangana families
On Vijayadashami, Telangana households perform Shami (jammi) puja and exchange jammi leaves with elders as a symbol of gold and blessings. Many families also start new learning or buy vehicles in the Vijay Muhurat. Ayudha Puja, honouring tools, books and vehicles, falls on Maha Navami, Monday 19 October. Because Dasara is a Wednesday in eastern Australia, many associations hold Dasara celebrations on the following weekend.
Your 2026 planner
- Sat 10 Oct: Engili Pula Bathukamma; Mahalaya Amavasya (see our Mahalaya Amavasya 2026 guide).
- Sun 11 Oct: Navratri begins; Atukula Bathukamma.
- Mon 12 – Sat 17 Oct: daily evening Bathukamma at home; buy flowers and plan saddulu.
- Sun 18 Oct: Saddula Bathukamma (Telangana calendar).
- Mon 19 Oct: Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami (Australian panchang); Saddula Bathukamma for families following the local panchang; Ayudha Puja.
- Tue 20 Oct: Dasara in Perth.
- Wed 21 Oct: Dasara in all other capitals; Shami puja in the Vijay Muhurat.
- Sat 24 Oct: Dussehra Mela, Melbourne † and VMS Durga Puja, Sydney † (confirm with organisers).
- Sun 8 Nov: Diwali — see our Diwali 2026 guide for Australia, the UAE and Singapore.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bathukamma 2026 in Australia?
Bathukamma runs for nine days on the Telangana calendar, from Engili Pula Bathukamma on Saturday 10 October (Mahalaya Amavasya) to Saddula Bathukamma on Sunday 18 October 2026. Australian associations often hold their main celebration on a nearby weekend.
Is Saddula Bathukamma on 18 or 19 October in Australia?
Both dates appear. Telangana's calendar keeps Saddula Bathukamma on Sunday 18 October. Australian panchangs list Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October, because Ashtami begins after sunrise on the 18th in Australian time. Most Telangana families follow the home calendar; temples may hold Ashtami pujas on the 19th.
Why is Dasara on 21 October in Sydney but 20 October in Perth?
Dashami tithi begins at 6:20 PM Sydney time on Tuesday 20 October, after that afternoon's Vijay Muhurat, so the first full Dashami afternoon is Wednesday 21 October. Perth is three hours behind Sydney, so Dashami begins at 3:20 PM on the 20th and Perth keeps Tuesday 20 October.
What is the Vijay Muhurat in Sydney and Melbourne?
On Wednesday 21 October 2026, Vijay Muhurat is 2:51–3:43 PM in Sydney and 3:18–4:11 PM in Melbourne. Brisbane is 1:41–2:32 PM because Queensland does not use daylight saving.
Can I use the India Vijay Muhurat time in Australia?
No. India's window of 1:59–2:45 PM IST is calculated for Indian sunrise and sunset and on India's date. Converted to Australian time it is not a valid window. Use the local table on this page.
Are there Bathukamma events confirmed in Australia for 2026?
Not yet. ATSA, ATF, the Melbourne Telangana Forum and the Telangana Association of Queensland usually host Bathukamma celebrations, but their 2026 dates had not been announced when we last checked. Two Dussehra and Durga Puja events on Saturday 24 October, in Melbourne and Sydney, are listed by third-party sites.
Editor's note (4 October 2026): We are waiting for 2026 Bathukamma dates from ATSA, ATF, the Melbourne Telangana Forum and the Telangana Association of Queensland — organisers are still publishing 2026 flyers; we will update this guide.
Related guides
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 (main guide)
- Dussehra 2026 in Australia, city by city
- Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 in Dubai and the UAE
- Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 in Singapore
- Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 in Europe, city by city
- Bathukamma 2026 in the UK, region by region
- Dussehra and Bathukamma 2026 in the USA
- Diwali 2026 in Australia, the UAE and Singapore
- October 2026 Hindu festivals calendar
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