Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Montreal is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Montreal is 2:26 PM – 3:08 PM local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and the Dashami tithi is in force in Montreal from Tue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM until Wed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Montreal times on this page were calculated for the city's own sunrise and sunset using the Drik Panchang method, with the tithi times shown in Montreal local time (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4, which Quebec is still on in late October). We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because temples and community groups announce these themselves each year. Please check their official websites and social pages before you go.

Montreal has one of the oldest Hindu communities in Canada. Sri Lankan Tamil, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Indo-Caribbean and South Indian families have built temples from the West Island to the east end, and Navratri and Dussehra bring them together for nine nights of devotion, music and dance, ending with the celebration of Rama's victory and the Goddess's triumph over evil.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and Montreal timings

ObservanceDate / time (2026)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October
Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami (India, Drik Panchang)Monday 19 October
Dussehra / Vijayadashami in MontrealTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi begins (Montreal time)Tue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM
Dashami tithi ends (Montreal time)Wed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)2:26 PM – 3:08 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja period)1:43 PM – 3:51 PM
Sunset in Montreal, 20 October6:00 PM

In India, the Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October. Those are Indian clock times; the Montreal rows above already show the same tithi in local time, and the Vijay Muhurat and Aparahna are worked out for Montreal itself. Because Dashami covers the whole Montreal afternoon on Tuesday, the entire Aparahna and the Vijay Muhurat fall inside the tithi, so Shami puja, Aparajita puja and Shastra puja can all be done on 20 October without any adjustment.

Hindu temples in Montreal for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations serve Montreal's Hindu communities. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages.

  • Hindu Mission of Canada (Quebec), central Montreal: often described as the city's oldest Hindu temple, with daily worship and a long tradition of community meals.
  • Hindu Mandir, Dollard-des-Ormeaux: a long-established West Island temple serving families from across the island.
  • Thiru Murugan Temple (Saiva Mission of Quebec), Dollard-des-Ormeaux: built by the Sri Lankan Tamil community and the first temple in Quebec in traditional South Indian style.
  • Hindu Devotional Society Mandir, LaSalle: a community mandir in the south-west of the island, active since the 1990s.
  • ISKCON Montreal (Hare Krishna temple), Hochelaga-Maisonneuve: one of the earliest ISKCON centres in North America, known for its kirtan and festival feasts.
  • Indian Bengali Association of Montreal (IBAM): the city's long-running Bengali association, which organises an annual Durga Puja.
  • Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Val-Morin (Laurentians): an ashram with a Hindu temple, about an hour north of the city, that draws devotees from Montreal.

How Montreal celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Montreal's large Sri Lankan Tamil community marks Navarathri with nine nights of worship to Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Temples in this tradition typically hold special abhishekam and alankaram for the Goddess each evening, with devotional singing and classical dance by local students. Many Tamil and other South Indian families also set up a Golu, a stepped display of dolls and figures, at home and invite friends to see it. Saraswati Puja on Navami and Vijayadashami the next day are especially important for children and students.

Garba and dandiya

Gujarati families and their friends from every background fill community halls on Navratri nights for garba and dandiya raas, dancing in circles around an image of Amba Mata. Events usually begin with an aarti, and the biggest nights tend to fall on the weekends of the festival, since most weekdays are school and work days. Traditional chaniya choli and kediyu are the usual dress, though newcomers are welcome in whatever they have.

Durga Puja

Montreal's Bengali community has celebrated Durga Puja for decades. A typical puja includes the worship of the Goddess with the dhak drum, pushpanjali, bhog for devotees, cultural programmes in the evenings and, at the end, Sindoor Khela and the farewell to the idol. In India, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 according to Drik Panchang for Kolkata, but diaspora Durga Pujas follow their committee's calendar, often shifted to a weekend, so check the committee's announcement.

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Ramlila, Ravan Dahan and Ayudha Puja

North Indian and Indo-Caribbean families often mark Dussehra with Ramayana readings, short Ramlila plays by children and, where local rules allow, the burning of a Ravana effigy. Telugu families may celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks and songs during the festival, and Tamil, Kannada and Malayali households honour their tools, books, laptops and cars on Ayudha Puja, the day before Vijayadashami. Many community celebrations in Montreal move to the weekend nearest to Dussehra.

Dussehra puja at home

You do not need a temple to observe Vijayadashami. A simple home puja in Montreal can follow this outline:

  • Morning: bathe, clean the puja space and offer prayers to the Goddess to conclude Navratri. Families who sowed barley at Ghatasthapana can take the shoots as a blessing.
  • Aparajita puja: during the Aparahna (1:43 PM – 3:51 PM), draw a simple eight-petalled lotus with rice or kumkum, invoke Goddess Aparajita and offer flowers, incense, a lamp and sweets.
  • Shami puja: in the Vijay Muhurat (2:26 PM – 3:08 PM), worship a Shami plant or leaves if you have them. If not, a picture or a few leaves of any sacred plant with a sincere prayer is fine. Many Marathi families exchange apta leaves as 'gold'.
  • Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, instruments, books, laptops and the car, apply tilak and offer a flower.
  • Vidyarambham: young children can write their first letters, traditionally 'Om' or the alphabet, in a plate of rice with the help of a parent or elder, invoking Saraswati.
  • Evening: light a lamp around sunset (6:00 PM in Montreal), read or tell the story of Rama's victory and share prasad with family and neighbours.

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

Practical tips for Dussehra in Montreal

  • It's a weekday: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026 are regular school and work days in Quebec. Plan a lunchtime or early-afternoon break if you want to do puja in the Vijay Muhurat, and expect many community events on the weekend instead.
  • Time zone: Quebec is still on daylight time (UTC-4) on 20 October, and the times on this page already reflect that. Don't convert India's times into Montreal time.
  • Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open fires are set by the City of Montreal and by each municipality, including West Island and South Shore towns. Check your city's rules before planning any burning.
  • Weather: late October in Montreal can be cold, wet and windy. Bring warm layers for outdoor events and allow extra travel time.
  • Getting there: parking near busy temples is limited on festival days. The métro, buses or carpooling can be easier, especially for West Island temples.
  • Language: temple and community notices are often in English and French, and sometimes Tamil, Bengali or Gujarati. Follow the group's social pages for updates.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Montreal?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and in Montreal the Dashami tithi runs from Tue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM to Wed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM local time, so it covers the whole afternoon of 20 October.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Montreal on Dussehra 2026?

2:26 PM – 3:08 PM on Tuesday 20 October 2026, Montreal local time (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. The wider Aparahna period is 1:43 PM – 3:51 PM.

Is Dussehra on the same day in Montreal as in India?

Yes. Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October 2026 both in India and in Montreal. The clock times differ because muhurats depend on local sunrise and sunset, so never convert India's times into Montreal time.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela in Montreal?

In India (Drik Panchang, Kolkata), Bengali-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026. Montreal's Durga Puja committees set their own schedules, often around a weekend, so follow your committee's announcement.

Which Hindu temples in Montreal celebrate Navratri?

Well-known places of worship include the Hindu Mission of Canada (Quebec) in central Montreal, the Hindu Mandir and the Thiru Murugan Temple in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, the Hindu Devotional Society Mandir in LaSalle and ISKCON Montreal in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Check each temple's website or social pages for its 2026 programme.

Can I burn a Ravan effigy or set off fireworks in Montreal?

Fireworks and open-fire rules are set by the City of Montreal and by each municipality on and off the island. Check the current local rules and get any permit needed before planning fireworks or an effigy burning.