Dussehra 2026 in Delhi: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Ramlila, Ravan Dahan and Durga Puja

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Delhi is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for New Delhi is 1:59 to 2:45 PM (Drik Panchang, local time). Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall together on Monday 19 October 2026. Ravan Dahan takes place after sunset on Dussehra evening.

Few cities celebrate Dussehra on the scale of Delhi. For the ten nights of Navratri, Ramlila stages light up grounds across the capital, from the historic venues of Old Delhi to the parks of residential colonies, and on Vijayadashami evening huge effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are set ablaze before cheering crowds. At the same time, Delhi's Bengali community celebrates Durga Puja in elaborate pandals, and the city's Devi temples are thronged with devotees through the nine days.

Dussehra 2026 key dates (India)

Dates are from Drik Panchang for India. Because Ashtami and Navami share a single day in 2026, Delhi families who perform Kanya pujan on either day will do it on 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.

Vijay Muhurat 2026 for Delhi

The Vijay Muhurat is the most auspicious window of Vijayadashami afternoon. It is the traditional time for Shami puja, Aparajita puja, Shastra puja (worship of weapons, tools and vehicles), starting new work, buying a vehicle or setting out on a journey.

Timings across the NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, will be within a minute or two of New Delhi's, but check a panchang set for your own location if you need exact times. The window falls after the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST.

How Delhi celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Ramlila: the capital's great stage

Ramlila is the soul of Dussehra in Delhi. The tradition of enacting the Ramayana over several nights is centuries old in North India, and Delhi's Ramlilas range from grand productions with elaborate sets, costumes and lighting to small neighbourhood performances where local residents play Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Ravana. Ramlila Maidan and the grounds near the Red Fort are traditionally among the best-known venues. Alongside them, many neighbourhood committees stage Ramlilas in parks and open grounds across the city.

The story unfolds night by night: Rama's birth, the breaking of Shiva's bow, exile to the forest, the abduction of Sita, the meeting with Hanuman, the building of the bridge to Lanka and the final battle. Schedules, timings and any entry arrangements are set by each committee every year, so check local announcements for 2026.

Ravan Dahan on Vijayadashami evening

On Dussehra evening, after the enactment of Rama's victory, the towering effigies of Ravana and his brothers are set alight, usually by a flaming arrow, to mark the triumph of good over evil. Building these effigies is a craft in itself: weeks before the festival, artisans assemble bamboo frames, paper, cloth and paint, and West Delhi's Titarpur area is well known for its effigy makers, whose giant Ravanas line the roadside in the run-up to Dussehra. Smaller effigies are burnt in housing societies and colony parks across the city.

Durga Puja in Delhi

Delhi has a large and long-established Bengali community, and Durga Puja is one of the highlights of the city's autumn. Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi is the best-known area for pandals, with idols, cultural programmes, food stalls and the sound of the dhak, and many other Bengali associations across Delhi and the NCR set up their own pujas. The festival culminates on Bijoya Dashami, which coincides with Vijayadashami, when married women take part in Sindoor Khela before the idol is bid farewell. Puja committees follow the Bengali panjika for the timings of Saptami, Ashtami, Sandhi Puja and Navami, so check their announcements.

Navratri at Delhi's Devi temples

Delhi's Devi temples are at their busiest during Navratri. The Jhandewalan Temple and the Kalkaji Mandir are among the city's best-known shrines of the Goddess, and the Chhatarpur temple complex in South Delhi also draws large crowds. Many Delhi families keep the nine-day fast, eating vrat food such as kuttu, singhara and sabudana, and end it with Kanya pujan on Ashtami or Navami, when young girls are honoured as forms of the Devi and served halwa, puri and kale chane. Temples see very heavy crowds during Navratri, so check each temple's official website for current timings and arrangements.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Delhi

• Crowds: large Ramlila grounds and Ravan Dahan sites draw very big crowds. Keep children close, agree a meeting point and carry minimal valuables.
• Safety at Ravan Dahan: stand well back from the effigies, which are packed with firecrackers, and follow the instructions of organisers and police.
• Getting there: traffic around major venues is usually heavy on Dussehra evening, and the traffic police usually issue advisories. Public transport such as the Delhi Metro is often the easier option.
• Firecrackers: rules on firecrackers in Delhi are set by the authorities and the courts and have changed over the years. Check the current official orders.
• Air quality: late October can bring poorer air in Delhi. People with asthma or other breathing problems may want to check air quality updates before heading out.

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.
• Shastra puja: clean and worship tools, vehicles, account books and laptops.
• Begin something new: Vijayadashami is one of the most auspicious days of the year for new ventures and purchases.
• Ravan Dahan: join the community effigy burning after sunset, a reminder that arrogance and adharma are finally defeated.

For Delhi families abroad

• Use a panchang calculated for your own city. Do not convert Delhi's Vijay Muhurat into your local time zone.
• Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a working day in most countries. Many mandirs and community groups hold their Ramlila or Ravan Dahan on the nearest weekend, so check their announcements.
• Hold Kanya pujan on Monday 19 October, or on the weekend if that is more practical.
• Video-call family in Delhi so children can watch the neighbourhood Ramlila or Ravan Dahan.

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

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Delhi?

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 Delhi on Dussehra 2026?

1:59 to 2:45 PM in New Delhi on Tuesday 20 October 2026, according to Drik Panchang. It is the traditional window for Shami puja, Aparajita puja, Shastra puja and starting new work.

Where can I see Ramlila in Delhi?

Ramlila Maidan and the grounds near the Red Fort are traditionally among the best-known venues, and many neighbourhood committees across the city stage their own Ramlilas in parks and open grounds. Schedules are set by each committee every year, so check local announcements for 2026.

Where is Durga Puja celebrated in Delhi?

Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi, home to a large Bengali community, is the best-known area for Durga Puja pandals, and many other Bengali associations across Delhi and the NCR set up pandals too. Puja committees follow the Bengali panjika for their daily rituals, so check their announcements.

Are firecrackers allowed in Delhi on Dussehra?

Rules on firecrackers in Delhi are set by the authorities and the courts, and they have changed from year to year. Check the current official orders before buying or using any firecrackers.

Can I use Delhi's Vijay Muhurat in the USA or UK?

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 and the New Delhi Vijay Muhurat are from Drik Panchang for India. We have not listed 2026 Ramlila schedules, Ravan Dahan times, guests or entry details because these are announced by organisers each year; please check official sources before you go. Firecracker rules are set by the authorities and courts and can change. Temple timings change, so check the temple's official website.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families
• Dussehra 2026 in Punjab
• Dussehra 2026 in Rajasthan
• Dussehra 2026 in Uttarakhand
• October 2026 Hindu festival calendar