Dussehra 2026 in Chhattisgarh: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Bastar Dussehra and Raipur Celebrations

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Chhattisgarh is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Vijay Muhurat: Raipur 1:44 to 2:30 PM, Jagdalpur 1:43 to 2:29 PM, Bilaspur 1:41 to 2:28 PM (local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method). The state's most famous celebration, Bastar Dussehra, is a long festival of the Bastar communities centred on Goddess Danteshwari at Jagdalpur, not on Ravan Dahan.

Chhattisgarh celebrates Dussehra in two very different ways. In Raipur, Bilaspur and the towns of the plains, the festival looks much as it does across North and Central India: Navratri fasting, crowds at the Devi temples, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan on Vijayadashami evening. In the forested south, Bastar keeps one of India's most remarkable festivals, a season-long celebration of Goddess Danteshwari in which communities from across the region come together at Jagdalpur. This guide gives the 2026 dates, a Vijay Muhurat table for three cities, an introduction to Bastar Dussehra and tips for families living away from home.

Dussehra 2026 key dates (India)

Dates are from Drik Panchang for India. Because Ashtami and Navami share a single day in 2026, Kanya pujan and the Navami havan will fall around Monday 19 October. The Dashami tithi begins shortly after midday on 20 October and covers the afternoon, which is why Vijayadashami is observed on Tuesday 20 October. Bastar Dussehra follows its own traditional sequence of rituals, whose 2026 schedule is announced locally.

Vijay Muhurat 2026 for Chhattisgarh cities

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, buying a vehicle or setting out on a journey. Timings for Tuesday 20 October 2026, in local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method:

The three windows are within a few minutes of each other, and all fall after the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST. For other towns such as Durg, Bhilai, Korba or Ambikapur, check a panchang set for that town.

Bastar Dussehra: a festival of the Goddess

Bastar Dussehra is unlike Dussehra anywhere else. It is a festival of the communities of the Bastar region, many of them tribal, held at Jagdalpur and centred on Goddess Danteshwari, the revered deity of Bastar whose principal temple stands at Dantewada and who also has a temple in Jagdalpur. Rather than celebrating Rama's victory over Ravana, it honours the Goddess, and there is no Ravan Dahan in its tradition. It is widely described as running for about 75 days, which would make it one of the longest festivals of its kind in India.

How the festival unfolds

Accounts of Bastar Dussehra describe a long sequence of rituals rather than a single day of celebration. The festival is widely described as beginning months before Navratri with a ritual in which wood is worshipped and brought for the building of the great chariot, and as continuing through ceremonies in which the permission and blessing of the Goddess are sought. The best-known part of the festival is the procession of a large wooden chariot, built by local craftsmen and pulled through Jagdalpur by devotees, around Navratri and Vijayadashami. Other rituals commonly described include a gathering of community representatives, often called the Muria Darbar, and a farewell to the visiting deities who are brought to Jagdalpur from surrounding villages, including the arrival of Goddess Mawli from Dantewada.

The festival has long been associated with the former rulers of Bastar as well as with the many communities who take part, each traditionally contributing particular services, materials or rituals. Because the rituals follow the traditional calendar and local custom, the names, sequence and dates are best confirmed from official announcements and from people who take part. If you plan to visit in 2026, check the schedule published by the organisers and the district administration, and be prepared for large crowds at the chariot processions.

Visiting respectfully

• Bastar Dussehra is a living religious festival, not a show. Follow the instructions of organisers and elders, and do not interrupt rituals.
• Ask before photographing people, and do not photograph where it is not allowed.
• Jagdalpur is reached by road and has a small airport; Raipur is the main gateway to the state. Book transport and stays early around the main procession days.
• Check official advisories for the region before travelling.

Navratri at Chhattisgarh's Devi temples

Chhattisgarh has several much-loved Devi shrines that draw large crowds during Navratri:

• Danteshwari temple, Dantewada: the principal shrine of Bastar's presiding Goddess, near the meeting of the Shankini and Dankini rivers, regarded by many devotees as a Shakti Peetha.
• Mahamaya temple, Ratanpur: near Bilaspur, an old shrine of Goddess Mahamaya associated with the historic Kalachuri capital at Ratanpur.
• Bamleshwari temple, Dongargarh: a hilltop temple of Maa Bamleshwari in Rajnandgaon district, where crowds climb the hill during Navratri.

At these and many other temples, devotees light manokamna jyoti, lamps kept burning through Navratri as an offering for their wishes. Temples see very heavy crowds during Navratri, so check each temple's official information for current timings and arrangements.

Raipur and the plains: Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

In Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bhilai and other towns of the plains, Dussehra is celebrated with Ramlila performances during Navratri and Ravan Dahan on Vijayadashami evening, when effigies of Ravana are burnt in public grounds before large crowds. Many neighbourhoods also set up Durga Puja pandals, and homes keep the Navratri fast, ending with Kanya pujan. Venues, timings and arrangements are announced by organisers and the local administration each year, so check local announcements for 2026, keep children close in crowds and stand well back from burning effigies.

For Chhattisgarh families away from home

• Use a panchang calculated for your own city. Do not convert Raipur's Vijay Muhurat into your local time zone.
• Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a working day in most countries. Many mandirs hold Dussehra events on the nearest weekend.
• Light a jyoti at home through Navratri and share stories of Maa Danteshwari and Bastar Dussehra with children.
• Video-call family at home so children can watch the local Ravan Dahan or the Bastar processions.

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

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Chhattisgarh?

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.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Raipur on Dussehra 2026?

1:44 to 2:30 PM in Raipur on Tuesday 20 October 2026, local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Jagdalpur is 1:43 to 2:29 PM and Bilaspur 1:41 to 2:28 PM.

What is Bastar Dussehra?

Bastar Dussehra is a long festival held at Jagdalpur by the communities of the Bastar region, centred on Goddess Danteshwari, the revered deity of Bastar. It is widely described as running for about 75 days, with a sequence of rituals and processions, and it is not centred on Ravan Dahan.

Is Ravana burnt in Bastar Dussehra?

No. Bastar Dussehra is a festival of the Goddess and of the region's communities, not a celebration of Rama's victory, so Ravan Dahan is not part of its tradition. Ravan Dahan is held in Raipur and many other towns of Chhattisgarh.

When are the Bastar Dussehra rituals in 2026?

The rituals follow the traditional lunar calendar, with the main processions around Navratri and Vijayadashami, but the schedule is announced each year by the organisers and the district administration. Check official announcements for the 2026 dates before planning a visit.

Can I use Raipur'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 local mandir's calendar.

Editor's note

Editor's note (5 October 2026): This page has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. Dates are from Drik Panchang for India, and the Vijay Muhurat timings are calculated by the Drik Panchang method for each city. Bastar Dussehra is widely described as lasting about 75 days; we have described its rituals in general terms and have not listed 2026 ritual dates, Ravan Dahan venues or times, or holiday dates, which are announced each year by organisers and the authorities. Please check official sources, and check each temple's official information for current timings.

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