Dussehra 2026 in USA: Tue, Oct 20 — Puja Time by City

How the Dussehra (Vijayadashami) date is decided

Dashami prevailing in the afternoon (Aparahna); Vijay Muhurat is the 11th part of the local day.

Significance

Vijayadashami is one of the three-and-a-half 'abujh' (needs-no-checking) muhurats — the whole day, especially the afternoon Vijay Kaal, is considered auspicious for new work, griha pravesh, buying a vehicle, vidyarambh and naming ceremonies.

The festival joins two stories — the Ramayana's slaying of Ravana and the Devi Purana's slaying of Mahishasura. That is why North India has Ramlila and Ravan Dahan while Bengal and the South have Durga immersion and Ayudha Puja — both on the same day.

For women it is the closing day of the Navratri fast — sharing the jawara, sprinkling the kalash water in the house, touching the feet of elders, and marking children and brothers with jawara and curd-rice tilak.

Puja vidhi (brief)

1. Bathe in the morning and do the final puja of Maa Durga — lamp, flowers, bhog, aarti; families that break the Navratri fast on Dashami feed the girls (kanya bhojan) and then break the fast.
2. Sprinkle the kalash water through the whole house; cut the jawara and offer it to the Goddess, then place it in the caps/behind the ears of the men of the family and in the plaits of sisters and daughters — it is the Goddess's blessing.
3. In the afternoon Vijay Muhurat (time above) do the weapon/tool puja: clean the household tools, vehicles, books and pens, the shop's scales and ledgers; offer roli-akshat-flowers and show the lamp. This is 'Ayudha Puja' — honouring the means of one's livelihood.
4. Shami puja: offer water, roli, akshat and flowers to a Shami (khejri) or Aparajita plant near the house; pray — 'Shami shamayate papam, Shami shatru-vinashini'. Keep one Shami leaf in the safe (place of wealth).
5. Aparajita puja: in the north-east corner of the house or in the open, draw a square and worship Goddess Aparajita (with Jaya and Vijaya) — the Goddess of victory.
6. Sighting the Neelkanth bird (Indian roller) is considered auspicious on this day — villages have the custom of looking for it in the morning.
7. In the evening watch the Ravan Dahan at the Ramlila ground; on returning touch the feet of elders and receive the curd-rice-jawara tilak — elders bless the young with 'Vijaya' and a protective tilak.
8. Immerse the kalash, jawara and idol on Dashami before sunset or as per family custom — in a river or pond, or in a pot/plant at home. Break a coconut and distribute prasad.
9. Start any new work, learning (vidyarambh) or new purchase in the Vijay Muhurat — it is the best time.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 on the same day in USA and India?

Yes — Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

What is the puja time for Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in New York?

Vijay Muhurat: 2:30 PM to 3:13 PM (EDT). Other cities are in the table above.

Which time zone are these timings in?

Each row is in that city's own local time with daylight saving applied (Eastern Time (EST/EDT) for New York).

Is the Navratri fast broken on Dussehra?

Many families break it on Navami after the havan and Kanya Pujan, and many on Dashami morning after puja — both are valid. Follow your family's custom.

Why is the Shami tree worshipped?

In the Mahabharata the Pandavas hid their weapons on a Shami tree and took them down on Vijayadashami to win; Shami is also regarded as the tree of Shani and Agni — keeping its leaf in the safe is believed to bring stability of wealth.

Can we buy new things on Dussehra?

Yes — it is one of the three-and-a-half abujh muhurats; vehicles, gold, a house, electronics, new books and pens are all auspicious. Even better in the Vijay Muhurat.

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