Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Mississauga is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Mississauga is 2:51 PM – 3:34 PM local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and the Dashami tithi runs from 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October to 4:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, Mississauga time.

Mississauga is home to one of Canada's largest and most varied Hindu communities. Gujarati families fill banquet halls for garba and dandiya, Bengali families gather for Durga Puja, Tamil and Telugu households set up Golu and Bathukamma, and North Indian and Indo-Caribbean communities mark Rama's victory with Ramayana recitals and Ravan Dahan. This guide gives you the local dates and times, the city's Hindu temples, and simple ways to observe Vijayadashami at home.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Dashami timings, Vijay Muhurat, Aparahna and sunset on this page were calculated for Mississauga in local time (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4), using the Drik Panchang method; the Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas. The all-India dates are from Drik Panchang. We have not converted India's times into Mississauga time, and we do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because temples and organisers announce these themselves. Please check their official channels before you go.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and times for Mississauga

ObservanceDate / time (2026)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October
Durga Ashtami and Maha NavamiMonday 19 October (India); follow your temple's calendar
Dussehra / Vijayadashami in MississaugaTuesday 20 October
Dashami tithi begins (local)Tue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM
Dashami tithi ends (local)Wed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)2:51 PM – 3:34 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja period)2:07 PM – 4:17 PM
Sunset6:27 PM

All Mississauga times are local (UTC-4). Ontario is still on daylight saving time on 20 October. Because Dashami begins before dawn on Tuesday and lasts until early Wednesday morning, the whole of Tuesday's Aparahna and the Vijay Muhurat fall inside the Dashami tithi, so there is no doubt about the date in Mississauga. For reference, India observes Dussehra on the same day, Tuesday 20 October, with Dashami from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October.

Hindu temples in Mississauga for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples are in Mississauga or just across the city line. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages.

  • Hindu Heritage Centre, Streetsville: one of the largest Hindu temples in Canada, with a large prayer hall, classrooms and a banquet hall, and home to a 51-foot statue of Lord Shri Ram unveiled in 2025.
  • Mississauga's Ram Mandir, north-east Mississauga (Malton and airport area): a temple devoted to Lord Rama, a natural focus for Dussehra.
  • Toronto Kalibari, north-east Mississauga near Pearson airport: despite its name, this Bengali temple of Maa Kali is in Mississauga and is known for its Durga Puja.
  • Jeyadurga Devasthanam, Malton area: a Durga temple set up by the Hindu Mission of Mississauga, serving many Indo-Caribbean Hindu families.
  • Sri Siva Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, east Mississauga: a Shiva and Satyanarayana temple in the South Indian tradition.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Etobicoke, Toronto, close to the Mississauga border: the traditional carved-stone mandir many Mississauga families visit during festivals.

How Mississauga celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For Gujarati families, Navratri means nine nights of garba and dandiya raas. In the GTA these are usually held in banquet halls, community centres and temple halls, with live music, a central image or lamp of the Goddess, and aarti before the dancing begins. Many events are busiest on Friday and Saturday nights, and traditional dress such as chaniya choli and kediyu is the norm.

Durga Puja

Mississauga's Bengali community celebrates Durga Puja with the clay image of Durga and her children, the beat of the dhak, anjali in the mornings, bhog, cultural programmes and Sandhi Puja. In India, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata), but diaspora Durga Pujas set their own days, often around weekends, so follow your puja committee.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Tamil families arrange Golu, the tiered display of dolls, and invite friends for kolu visits, songs and sundal. Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja, when books, tools, instruments and vehicles are worshipped, come at the end of Navratri, followed by Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami. Telugu families celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks and circle songs, and communities in the GTA often organise group Bathukamma gatherings.

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Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian and Indo-Caribbean Hindu communities mark Dussehra with Ramayana recitals, Ramlila plays and, where local rules allow, the burning of a Ravana effigy to celebrate the victory of good over evil. In the GTA these are often held on the weekend nearest to Dussehra, at temples or in rented grounds.

Dussehra puja at home in Mississauga

You do not need a temple to observe Vijayadashami. A simple home puja on Tuesday 20 October, within the Aparahna of 2:07 PM to 4:17 PM and ideally in the Vijay Muhurat of 2:51 PM to 3:34 PM, follows the traditional order:

  • Aparajita puja: draw a simple eight-petalled lotus with rice or kumkum, place a lamp and offer flowers to Devi Aparajita, the goddess of victory, praying for success and protection.
  • Shami puja: if you have a Shami plant or leaves, worship them; otherwise offer leaves of another sacred plant. In Maharashtrian and Deccan homes, apta leaves are exchanged as 'gold'.
  • Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and worship your tools of work: car, laptop, books, musical instruments or kitchen tools, with kumkum, flowers and a lamp.
  • Vidyarambham: South Indian families start a small child's learning by guiding them to write 'Om' or the first letters of the alphabet in rice.
  • Simple vidhi: bathe, light a lamp, invoke Ganesha, worship Durga and Rama, offer sweets, read or listen to the story of Rama's victory, perform aarti and share prasad.

If you are working on Tuesday afternoon, do what you can in the Aparahna, or perform a short prayer after work. The Dashami tithi continues until 4:41 AM on Wednesday.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Mississauga

  • Weekday festival: 20 and 21 October are school and work days, so plan time off early or join weekend programmes.
  • Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open burning are set by the City of Mississauga and local fire services. Organisers need permission, and you should check the city's current rules before using any fireworks at home.
  • Parking and transit: temple parking fills quickly on festival evenings. Arrive early, carpool, or use MiWay and GO Transit where they serve your area, and follow the directions of volunteers.
  • Weather: late October evenings can be cool, so bring a warm layer for outdoor events after sunset at 6:27 PM.
  • Fasting and food: many families keep the Navratri fast; temple kitchens and Indian grocery stores in the city usually stock vrat foods during the festival.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Mississauga?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October and ends at 4:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, Mississauga time, so it covers the whole of Tuesday afternoon. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Mississauga on Dussehra 2026?

2:51 PM – 3:34 PM on Tuesday 20 October 2026, Mississauga local time (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. The wider Aparahna period is 2:07 PM – 4:17 PM. This is the traditional window for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and Shastra puja.

Can I use India's Dussehra times in Mississauga?

No. India's Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October, but muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset. Use the Mississauga times on this page or your temple's calendar rather than converting India's times.

Which temples in Mississauga celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

Temples in Mississauga include the Hindu Heritage Centre in Streetsville, Mississauga's Ram Mandir, Toronto Kalibari, Jeyadurga Devasthanam and the Sri Siva Satyanarayana Swamy Temple. Temples usually announce their Navratri, Durga Puja and Dussehra programmes a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela in 2026?

In India, the Bengali-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Pujas in the Greater Toronto Area follow their own committee's schedule, so check with your puja committee.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Mississauga?

No. Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a normal working and school day in Ontario. Many temples and community groups hold their larger Dussehra or Ravan Dahan programmes on a nearby weekend, so check their announcements.