Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 on the Gold Coast is on Wednesday 21 October 2026, one day after India. The Vijay Muhurat is 1:40 PM – 2:31 PM local time (calculated by the Drik Panchang method for the Gold Coast). Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October 2026.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The local times on this page were calculated for the Gold Coast (Australia/Brisbane time zone, UTC+10) from the Drik Panchang Dashami tithi of 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat uses the Drik Panchang method (the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas). We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because these are announced by temples and community groups each year. Please check their official channels before you go.

The Gold Coast's Hindu community has grown quickly over the past two decades, with families from Gujarat, Punjab, South India, Bengal, Nepal, Fiji and Sri Lanka settling across the city from Coomera and Helensvale down to the southern suburbs. Many families also drive up the M1 to the larger temples and celebrations in Brisbane and Logan.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and times for the Gold Coast

ObservanceDate / time (2026)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October
Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami (India)Monday 19 October
Dussehra / Vijayadashami on the Gold CoastWednesday 21 October
Dashami tithi begins (local)Tue 20 Oct, 5:20 PM
Dashami tithi ends (local)Wed 21 Oct, 6:41 PM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)1:40 PM – 2:31 PM, Wed 21 Oct
Aparahna (afternoon puja window)12:48 PM – 3:23 PM, Wed 21 Oct
Sunset5:57 PM, Wed 21 Oct

All clock times are Gold Coast local time (AEST, UTC+10). Queensland does not use daylight saving, so the Gold Coast stays on UTC+10 in October, while Tweed Heads and the rest of New South Wales just across the border are on daylight time, an hour ahead. If you live on the NSW side, use a panchang for your own town or follow your temple.

In India, Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October, because the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST, in time for the Indian afternoon. On the Gold Coast that same moment is 5:20 PM on Tuesday, after the Aparahna has finished, so the festival moves to Wednesday 21 October locally. Dashami then covers the whole of Wednesday afternoon, and the Vijay Muhurat falls comfortably within it. The Ashtami and Navami dates above are India's; local temple calendars may list them a day later, so follow your temple for Kanya pujan and Navami puja. Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 in India (Drik Panchang for Kolkata); diaspora Durga Pujas follow their committee's own schedule.

Hindu temples in Gold Coast for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations have been confirmed to exist on or near the Gold Coast. Check their official websites or social pages for 2026 programmes.

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gold Coast: inaugurated in September 2025 and described by BAPS as the Gold Coast's first Hindu mandir.
  • Gold Coast Hindu Cultural Association, Helensvale: a community association working towards a Hindu education and cultural precinct for the city.
  • ISKCON Bhakti Centre, Surfers Paradise: a Hare Krishna centre set up as a Gold Coast satellite of the New Govardhana community.
  • ISKCON New Govardhana, Eungella (near Murwillumbah, NSW): Australia's largest Krishna farm community, south of the Gold Coast in the Tweed Valley.
  • Shri Selva Vinayakar Koyil, South Maclean (Logan): a South Indian temple between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
  • Indian Community of Gold Coast and GOPIO Gold Coast: community organisations that hold Indian festival gatherings across the city.

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. For a wider choice of temples and larger Navratri events, see our Dussehra 2026 Brisbane guide.

How Gold Coast celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For the Gujarati community, Navratri means garba and dandiya raas: circles of dancers moving around a decorated image or lamp of the Goddess, with aarti each night. On the Gold Coast, garba nights are typically held in community halls or school venues, often concentrated on the weekends of Navratri so that working families can attend. Traditional chaniya choli and kediyu are worn, and many events end with snacks and a shared meal.

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Durga Puja

Bengali families on the Gold Coast often join the larger Durga Pujas in Brisbane, which typically run from Shashthi to Dashami with pushpanjali, bhog, the dhak drums and cultural evenings, ending with Sindoor Khela and a farewell to the Goddess. Committees follow the Bengali panjika and their own logistics, so dates can differ from the panchang dates on this page.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families mark Dussehra with stories of Rama's victory over Ravana. In Australian cities, community groups sometimes stage short Ramlila performances by children and adults, and a small Ravana effigy may be burnt in an open ground, but only where the organisers have permission. Most Gold Coast families mark the day with a temple visit, a family puja and sweets.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Tamil, Telugu and Kannada families set up Golu or Bommai Kolu, steps of dolls and figurines, and invite friends for haldi-kumkum and sundal. Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks and songs, and South Indian homes mark Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja at the end of Navratri, placing books, instruments and tools before the Goddess. Nepali-speaking families celebrate Dashain, receiving tika and jamara from elders.

Dussehra puja at home on the Gold Coast

Most of the Vijayadashami rituals can be done at home. On the Gold Coast, the ideal time is the Vijay Muhurat, 1:40 PM – 2:31 PM on Wednesday 21 October, or at least within the Aparahna, 12:48 PM – 3:23 PM.

  • Aparajita puja: draw a simple eight-petalled lotus with rice or kumkum, place a lamp in the centre and worship Goddess Aparajita, the unconquerable one, with flowers and naivedya.
  • Shami puja: if you can find a Shami tree, offer water, rice and a lamp at its base; otherwise worship Shami leaves, or exchange leaves as tokens of goodwill, as many Maharashtrian and Kannada families do with apta leaves.
  • Ayudha puja: clean and decorate tools, vehicles, laptops and work equipment, apply kumkum and sandal paste, and offer a short prayer.
  • Vidyarambham: Vijayadashami is a favoured day to begin learning. Young children trace their first letters in rice with a parent or elder, and students and musicians honour their books and instruments.
  • Simple vidhi: bathe, light a lamp, invoke Ganesha, worship the Goddess and Lord Rama, offer sweets, and finish with aarti. Elders often bless the family and give small gifts to children.

For full puja steps and the story of Vijayadashami, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 complete guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra on the Gold Coast

  • Weekday festival: Wednesday 21 October 2026 is a normal working and school day in Queensland. Plan a lunchtime or after-work puja, and expect many community events to move to the nearest weekend.
  • Effigies and fireworks: rules for fireworks and open fires are set by the Queensland authorities and the City of Gold Coast. Community groups need permits, so never burn effigies or set off fireworks without checking local rules.
  • Getting there: weekend events on the northern Gold Coast and in Logan and Brisbane mean time on the M1, which can be busy. Allow extra time, carpool, or check the train and G:link light rail options.
  • Border clocks: if your temple or event is across the border in New South Wales, remember that clocks there are an hour ahead of the Gold Coast in October.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 on the Gold Coast?

Wednesday 21 October 2026. In India, Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October, but on the Gold Coast the Dashami tithi only begins at 5:20 PM on Tuesday 20 October, after that afternoon has passed, so the festival falls on Wednesday 21 October locally.

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What is the Vijay Muhurat on the Gold Coast on Dussehra 2026?

1:40 PM – 2:31 PM local time on Wednesday 21 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for the Gold Coast. It falls within the Aparahna (12:48 PM – 3:23 PM) and within the Dashami tithi.

Why is Dussehra a day later on the Gold Coast than in India?

The Dashami tithi starts at 12:50 PM IST on 20 October. The Gold Coast is four and a half hours ahead of India, so the tithi begins at 5:20 PM local time, after the afternoon window in which Vijayadashami is observed. The next afternoon, Wednesday 21 October, is fully within Dashami.

Is there a Hindu temple on the Gold Coast?

Yes. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, inaugurated in September 2025, is described by BAPS as the Gold Coast's first Hindu mandir. Many families also travel to temples in Brisbane and Logan, such as the Shri Selva Vinayakar Koyil at South Maclean.

Where can I find Navratri garba or Ravan Dahan on the Gold Coast?

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. Larger events are often held in Brisbane, and many groups choose the nearest weekend.

Can I use India's Dussehra times on the Gold Coast?

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