Dussehra 2026 in Andaman and Nicobar: Date, Sri Vijaya Puram Vijay Muhurat, Durga Puja and Navaratri on the Islands

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Vijay Muhurat in Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair): 1:02–1:49 PM (local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method). Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall together on Monday 19 October 2026. By the Bengali calendar, Bijoya Dashami is on Wednesday 21 October.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a little India in the Bay of Bengal. Over the past century and more, people from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Punjab and many other regions have settled here, alongside the islands' indigenous communities. The result is a festive season in which several traditions sit side by side: Bengali Durga Puja, the Navaratri customs of South Indian families, and the North Indian Vijayadashami with Shastra puja and, in some places, the burning of Ravana. This page gives the 2026 dates, the Vijay Muhurat for the capital and an overview of how the festival is observed on the islands.

Navratri and Dussehra 2026 key dates (India)

Dates are from Drik Panchang for India. In 2026, Ashtami and Navami share a single day. Tamil, Telugu and Malayali families who keep Saraswati Puja, Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham may follow their own almanac or temple announcements, so where there is a difference, follow your family priest.

Durga Puja dates 2026 (Bengali calendar)

Durga Pujas on the islands commonly follow the Bengali panjika. Drik Panchang's Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata gives these dates for 2026:

By the Bengali calendar, Maha Navami falls on Tuesday 20 October, the same day as the all-India Vijayadashami, and Bijoya Dashami follows on Wednesday 21 October. Local committees decide their own schedules.

Vijay Muhurat 2026 for Sri Vijaya Puram

The Vijay Muhurat is the most auspicious window of Vijayadashami afternoon, traditionally used for Aparajita puja, Shami puja, Shastra puja and for beginning new work or journeys. Timing for Tuesday 20 October 2026, in local time (IST), calculated by the Drik Panchang method:

The islands lie well east of India's standard meridian, so the window falls earlier by the clock than on most of the mainland, shortly after the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST. On other islands, such as Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) or in North and Middle Andaman, the time will differ a little; check a panchang set for your location if you need the exact window.

How the islands celebrate

Durga Puja

People of Bengali origin form one of the largest communities in the Andamans, and Durga Puja is one of the most visible festivals of the year. Community pujas are commonly organised in Sri Vijaya Puram and in other settlements across the islands, with an image of the Goddess, daily rituals, bhog, cultural evenings and, on the last day, immersion and Sindoor Khela. Because pujas are run by local committees, their number, scale and arrangements change from year to year. We do not list specific pandals or organisers; ask locally once you arrive.

South Indian Navaratri

Tamil, Telugu and Malayali families bring their own customs. In Tamil households, Navaratri is often marked with a Golu display of dolls and visits from friends; Telugu families may keep the Devi Navaratri pujas of their home region; and Malayali families keep Pooja Veppu, Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham, when children are initiated into writing on Vijayadashami morning. Our guide to Navarathri 2026 in Tamil Nadu explains these customs in more detail.

Vijayadashami, Shastra puja and Ravan Dahan

Families from North India keep Shami and Aparajita puja and worship tools and vehicles on Vijayadashami, and the armed forces and other services stationed on the islands commonly mark the day with Shastra puja within their establishments. In some places, residents' groups may arrange a Ravan Dahan on Dussehra evening. Such events are local, and their scale and timing are announced each year.

What to do on Vijayadashami

• Aparajita and Shami puja: worship the goddess of victory in the afternoon, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat.
• Shastra and Ayudha puja: clean and worship tools, vehicles, boats, books and laptops. For island families who depend on the sea, blessing boats and fishing gear is a fitting custom.
• Vidyarambham: initiate young children into learning on Vijayadashami morning.
• Bijoya greetings: after the Bengali Bijoya Dashami, visit friends and elders with sweets.

For the meaning of Dussehra and a full puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Travel notes for October

• Weather: October is a transition month after the south-west monsoon, and showers and rough seas are still possible. Ferry schedules can change at short notice, so keep your plans flexible.
• Bookings: flights and ferries are busy in the festive season. Book early and confirm close to the date.
• Permits: Indian visitors do not need a permit for the main tourist areas, but tribal reserves and some islands are restricted. Rules for foreign nationals have changed in recent years. Check the Andaman and Nicobar administration's official website for current rules.
• Respect protected areas: never attempt to enter tribal reserves or photograph indigenous communities.

For families abroad, our Navratri 2026 guide for NRI families covers puja steps that work anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Andaman and Nicobar?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami are both on Monday 19 October 2026, according to Drik Panchang for India. The dates are the same across India, including the islands.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Port Blair on Dussehra 2026?

1:02–1:49 PM local time (IST) on Tuesday 20 October 2026 in Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), calculated by the Drik Panchang method.

Is Port Blair now called Sri Vijaya Puram?

Yes. The capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in 2024. Many people, maps and booking sites still use the name Port Blair, so you will see both.

Is Durga Puja celebrated in the Andaman Islands?

Yes. The islands have a large Bengali-origin population, and community Durga Pujas are commonly held in Sri Vijaya Puram and in other settlements. Committees set their own schedules each year, often following the Bengali panjika.

When is Bijoya Dashami 2026?

Drik Panchang's Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata places Bijoya Dashami on Wednesday 21 October 2026, one day after the all-India Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October. Check your local puja committee's announcements.

Can I use the Port Blair Vijay Muhurat elsewhere?

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset. Families on the mainland or abroad should use a panchang for their own city rather than converting the island time.

Editor's note

Editor's note (5 October 2026): This page has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. Festival dates are from Drik Panchang for India, the Durga Puja dates are from Drik Panchang's calendar for Kolkata, and the Vijay Muhurat for Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) was calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Celebrations on the islands are organised by local committees, so we have deliberately not listed specific pandals, temples, events or organisers. Permit rules and ferry schedules are set by the administration and can change; check official sources before you travel.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 in West Bengal
• Dussehra 2026 in Tamil Nadu
• Dussehra 2026 in Andhra Pradesh
• Dussehra 2026 in Kerala
• Dussehra 2026 in Lakshadweep
• October 2026 Hindu festival calendar