Dussehra 2026 in Assam: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Durga Puja in Guwahati and Kamakhya

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. In Assam the season is celebrated mainly as Durga Puja; in the Bengal-tradition calendar, Maha Ashtami is Monday 19 October, Maha Navami Tuesday 20 October and Bijoya Dashami Wednesday 21 October. Vijay Muhurat: Guwahati 1:02 to 1:48 PM, Silchar 12:58 to 1:44 PM, Dibrugarh 12:49 to 1:34 PM (start after 12:50 PM; local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method).

Autumn in Assam belongs to Durga Puja. From the Brahmaputra valley to the Barak valley, puja committees build pandals, the dhak and the khol sound through the evenings, and families visit pandal after pandal in new clothes. Guwahati, home to the Kamakhya temple on Nilachal hill, is at the centre of it all. This guide gives the 2026 dates in both the all-India and Bengal-tradition calendars, a Vijay Muhurat table for Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar, the customs to know and tips for Assamese families living away from home.

Dussehra and Durga Puja 2026 key dates

All-India dates are from Drik Panchang for India; the Durga Puja days are from Drik Panchang's Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata. In 2026 the two calendars differ by a day at the end. The all-India Vijayadashami, with its Vijay Muhurat, is on Tuesday 20 October, while in the Bengal-tradition calendar that day is Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami, with immersion and Sindoor Khela, falls on Wednesday 21 October. Puja committees in Assam may follow the Bengali panjika or an Assamese almanac, so always check your committee's schedule for the exact timings of Sandhi puja, pushpanjali and immersion.

Vijay Muhurat 2026 for Assam

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

A note for Dibrugarh: Upper Assam lies so far east that its afternoon muhurat comes early by the clock. Dibrugarh's window opens at 12:49 PM, just as the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST. To be sure your puja falls in Dashami, begin it after 12:50 PM. The same caution applies to towns further east, such as Tinsukia, whose windows may open slightly earlier still; check a panchang set for your own town.

How Assam celebrates

Durga Puja in Guwahati

Guwahati has a great many puja committees, from long-established community pujas in the older parts of the city to newer neighbourhood and housing-society pujas. Pandals range from traditional designs to elaborate themed structures, and the images of Goddess Durga with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya are made by local artisans. Evenings bring aarti with dhak and dhunuchi, cultural programmes and food stalls, and on Ashtami crowds gather for pushpanjali in the morning. Traffic restrictions are usually announced for the busiest evenings, so check official advisories before heading out.

Durga Puja at Kamakhya

The Kamakhya temple on Nilachal hill is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas in India and a great centre of the Shakta and Tantric traditions. It observes Durga Puja with its own long-established rites, which differ in form from the community pandal pujas in the city, and devotees from across India climb the hill during the festival. Kamakhya is best known for the Ambubachi Mela, held in the monsoon, but Durga Puja is also one of its major occasions. Crowds are heavy, so check the temple's official information for current darshan arrangements and timings.

Silchar and the Barak valley

In the Barak valley of southern Assam, where Bengali-speaking Hindus form a large part of the population, Durga Puja is celebrated very much in the Bengali style, following the Bengali panjika closely. Silchar's pujas are a highlight of the year for the region, and the customs of Bijoya Dashami described below are widely observed.

Across the Brahmaputra valley

In towns such as Jorhat, Tezpur, Nagaon, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, and in many villages, local committees hold Durga Puja with music, theatre and community feasts. In some places, Assamese devotional traditions such as Ojapali or Bhaona-style performances may form part of the cultural programme, depending on the committee. Ravan Dahan is not a central tradition in Assam as it is in North India, though some localities with North Indian communities organise a Ramlila or effigy burning; such events are announced locally.

Bijoya Dashami and immersion

On Bijoya Dashami, married women in Bengali households take part in Sindoor Khela, smearing vermilion on the goddess and on one another before she departs. The images are then carried in procession for immersion, often in the Brahmaputra or local rivers and ponds, at arrangements set by the authorities. Afterwards people exchange Bijoya greetings, touch the feet of elders and share sweets. In the Bengal-tradition calendar for 2026, Bijoya Dashami is Wednesday 21 October.

What to do on Vijayadashami

• Aparajita and Shami puja: worship the goddess of victory and the Shami tree in the afternoon, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat (after 12:50 PM in Dibrugarh).
• Shastra puja: clean and worship tools, vehicles, books and laptops.
• Bijoya greetings: seek blessings from elders and share sweets with neighbours.
• Begin something new: Vijayadashami is one of the most auspicious days of the year for new ventures and starting studies.

For Assamese families away from home

• Do not convert Guwahati's Vijay Muhurat into another time zone. Use a panchang for your own city or follow your puja committee.
• Assamese and Bengali associations in other Indian cities and abroad often hold Durga Puja on the nearest weekend. Check their announcements for 2026.
• If you cannot reach a puja, offer pushpanjali at home on Ashtami and video-call family in Assam for Bijoya greetings.
• Plan travel home early. Flights and trains to Guwahati are usually busy in the Durga Puja week.

For the meaning of Dussehra and a full puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide. For Kolkata's Durga Puja calendar in detail, see Dussehra 2026 in West Bengal.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Assam?

Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October 2026, according to Drik Panchang for India. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami are both on Monday 19 October.

When is Durga Puja 2026 in Assam?

In the Bengal-tradition Durga Puja calendar (Drik Panchang, Kolkata), Maha Shashthi is Saturday 17 October, Maha Saptami Sunday 18 October, Maha Ashtami Monday 19 October, Maha Navami Tuesday 20 October and Bijoya Dashami Wednesday 21 October 2026. Many puja committees in Assam follow this kind of almanac, but check your own committee's schedule.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Guwahati on Dussehra 2026?

1:02 to 1:48 PM in Guwahati on Tuesday 20 October 2026, local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Silchar is 12:58 to 1:44 PM and Dibrugarh 12:49 to 1:34 PM.

Why should Dibrugarh start the Vijayadashami puja after 12:50 PM?

Dibrugarh's Vijay Muhurat (12:49 to 1:34 PM) opens at almost exactly the moment the Dashami tithi begins, 12:50 PM IST. To be sure your puja falls in Dashami, begin it after 12:50 PM; the rest of the window, up to 1:34 PM, is fully within Dashami.

Is Durga Puja celebrated at Kamakhya temple?

Yes. The Kamakhya temple on Nilachal hill in Guwahati, one of the most revered Shakti Peethas, observes Durga Puja with its own long-established rites, and the hill draws large crowds during the festival. Check the temple's official information for current arrangements.

Can I use Guwahati's muhurat abroad?

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so they cannot be converted into another time zone. Use a panchang for your own city or follow your community's puja committee.

Editor's note

Editor's note (5 October 2026): This page has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. All-India dates are from Drik Panchang for India, and the Durga Puja days from Drik Panchang's Durga Puja calendar for Kolkata; committees in Assam may follow their own almanac. Vijay Muhurat timings are calculated by the Drik Panchang method for each city. We have not named puja committees, pandals, immersion routes or holiday dates, which change each year; please check local announcements, official advisories and the Assam government holiday list. Temple timings change, so check the temple's official information.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra and Durga Puja 2026 in West Bengal
• Dussehra 2026 in Meghalaya
• Dussehra 2026 in Tripura
• Kamakhya temple guide
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families