Dussehra 2026 in Canberra: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Temples and Navratri Celebrations

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Canberra is on Wednesday 21 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat in Canberra is 2:59 PM – 3:52 PM local time (AEDT), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. That is one day later than in India, where Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October, because in the ACT the Dashami tithi only begins on Tuesday evening.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Canberra times on this page were calculated for the city itself using the Drik Panchang method, with the Dashami tithi (12:50 PM IST 20 Oct to 2:11 PM IST 21 Oct) shown in Canberra's local daylight time, UTC+11. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because these are set by temples and community groups each year. Please check their own websites or social pages before you go.

Canberra has one of Australia's longest-established Hindu communities outside the big state capitals. Today the national capital has several temples spread from Tuggeranong in the south to Gungahlin in the north. Navratri and Dussehra bring together Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayali, Marathi, North Indian, Nepali and Fijian Indian families, each with its own way of honouring the Goddess.

Dussehra 2026 dates and Vijay Muhurat for Canberra

Why the 21st? Vijayadashami is observed on the day when the Dashami tithi is present during the Aparahna, the afternoon period used for Aparajita and Shami puja. On Tuesday 20 October, Canberra's afternoon is over long before Dashami begins at 6:20 PM, so the festival moves to Wednesday 21 October, when Dashami covers the whole afternoon. The Vijay Muhurat, 2:59 PM – 3:52 PM, falls comfortably inside both the Aparahna and the Dashami tithi. The ACT is on daylight saving time in October, and all times above already include it.

Bengali-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 in India (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Diaspora Durga Pujas in Canberra follow their own committee's schedule, which is often arranged around a weekend.

Hindu temples in Canberra for Navratri & Dussehra

The following temples and community organisations have been confirmed to exist in Canberra:

• Sri Vishnu Shiva Mandir, Mawson: run by the Mandir Society of Australia since the 1980s, the temple is home to Lord Venkateswara and Lord Shiva and also houses a public library. It is one of the city's main venues for festivals.
• Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre (HTCC), Torrens: among the first Hindu temples in Canberra, in the Woden Valley, serving devotees with regular worship, festivals and cultural activities.
• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Taylor: the striking mandir and community centre in Gungahlin, inaugurated in 2024, where the Swaminarayan community marks the major Hindu festivals.
• Canberra Hindu Mandir, Moncrieff: the community organisation developing a traditional agama-style temple and community facility in Gungahlin.
• ISKCON Canberra, Ainslie: the Hare Krishna temple in Canberra's inner north, dedicated to Lord Krishna.
• Gujarati Samaj of the ACT: the community association behind Canberra's long-running Navratri garba and dandiya celebrations.
• Bengali Association of Canberra: the cultural association that celebrates Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja and other festivals for Canberra's Bengali community.

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. Temple timings change, so check each temple's official website before you visit.

How Canberra celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya nights

Gujarati and North Indian families keep Navratri with garba and dandiya raas, the circle dances performed around an image or lamp of the Goddess. In Canberra, community garba nights are usually held in school or community halls on the weekends of the nine days, with families in festive chaniya choli and kurta and an aarti to Amba Mata before the dancing.

Durga Puja

Bengali, Odia and Assamese families celebrate Durga Puja, worshipping the Goddess with her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Diaspora pujas in Canberra typically include pushpanjali (flower offering), bhog, cultural programmes by children and adults, and, on the last day, Sindoor Khela and the farewell of the Goddess.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

For many North Indian families, Dussehra means Ram's victory over Ravana. In Australia, Ramlila is often staged as a short drama or children's play, and some temples or associations hold a Ravan Dahan, the burning of a Ravana effigy, on the nearest weekend. Effigy burning and fireworks need approval from the ACT authorities, so these events are run only by organisers with the necessary permits.

Golu, Ayudha Puja and Bathukamma

Tamil, Telugu and Kannada families arrange a Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bombe Habba) of dolls on stepped shelves, invite friends to see it and share sundal. On Navami they keep Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja, honouring books, tools and vehicles, and on Vijayadashami children begin learning with Vidyarambham, often at a temple. Telugu families celebrate Bathukamma with stacked flower arrangements and songs, and Canberra's Nepali community keeps Dashain, receiving tika and jamara from elders.

Dussehra puja at home in Canberra

Most Canberra families will mark Vijayadashami at home on Wednesday 21 October, a working day, and join a community celebration on the weekend. A simple home vidhi:

• Prepare: clean the puja space, bathe and wear fresh clothes. Keep a lamp, incense, flowers, kumkum, rice, fruit and a sweet offering ready.
• Aparajita puja: during the Aparahna (2:07 PM – 4:45 PM), ideally in the Vijay Muhurat (2:59 PM – 3:52 PM), draw a simple eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice and worship Goddess Aparajita, the undefeated form of Durga, asking for victory over obstacles.
• Shami puja: offer water, rice and flowers to a Shami plant or leaves if you have them. Many Maharashtrian and Karnataka families exchange Apta or Shami leaves as 'gold' with friends and elders.
• Ayudha / Shastra puja: place tools, work laptops, books, musical instruments and car keys before the deity, mark them with kumkum and offer flowers. Families who kept Ayudha Puja on Navami take the items back into use today.
• Vidyarambham: small children write their first letters, often 'Om' or the alphabet, in a plate of rice with a parent's or teacher's help.
• Close: perform aarti, share prasad and seek blessings from elders. Video-call grandparents in India, who will have celebrated a day earlier.

If you cannot finish the puja inside the Vijay Muhurat because of work or school, do it within the Aparahna or later that day while Dashami is still running (it ends at 7:41 PM on Wednesday).

Practical tips for Dussehra in Canberra

• Weekday festival: both Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October are ordinary working and school days in the ACT. Plan a short evening puja and keep bigger celebrations for the weekend.
• Getting around: Canberra's temples are spread across the city, from Mawson and Torrens in the south to Taylor and Moncrieff in Gungahlin. Allow travel time, car-pool where you can and expect car parks to fill quickly on festival weekends.
• Fireworks and effigies: fireworks and open fires are tightly regulated in the ACT. Check the current rules, and only attend Ravan Dahan events run by organisers with permits.
• Weather: Canberra evenings in October can be cold, even after a warm day. Bring warm layers to outdoor garba or Ravan Dahan events.
• Use local times: do not convert India's muhurat to Canberra time. Use the Canberra times above or your temple's panchang.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Canberra?

Wednesday 21 October 2026. In India, Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October, but in Canberra the Dashami tithi only begins on Tuesday evening (6:20 PM local time), after the afternoon window has passed. So the local Vijayadashami falls on Wednesday 21 October.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Canberra on Dussehra 2026?

2:59 PM – 3:52 PM local time (AEDT) on Wednesday 21 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Canberra. The wider Aparahna period is 2:07 PM – 4:45 PM, and both fall within the Dashami tithi.

Why is Dussehra a day later in Canberra than in India?

Vijayadashami is kept on the day when the Dashami tithi covers the afternoon (Aparahna). Dashami begins at 12:50 PM IST on 20 October, which is already Tuesday evening in the ACT, so the first Canberra afternoon with Dashami is Wednesday 21 October.

Which Hindu temples in Canberra celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

Canberra's established temples include Sri Vishnu Shiva Mandir in Mawson, the Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre in Torrens and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Taylor, along with ISKCON Canberra in Ainslie. Check each temple's own website for its 2026 festival programme.

Where can I see garba, Durga Puja or Ravan Dahan in Canberra?

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. The Gujarati Samaj of the ACT and the Bengali Association of Canberra are the best-known organisers of garba and Durga Puja in the city.

Can I use India's Dussehra muhurat in Canberra?

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's times cannot be converted into Canberra time. Use the Canberra times on this page or your temple's calendar.

Related guides

• Dussehra 2026 Australia, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in Sydney
• Dussehra 2026 in Wollongong
• Dussehra 2026 in Parramatta
• Dussehra 2026 in Newcastle
• Dussehra 2026 in Melbourne
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families