Dussehra 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, Ravan Dahan Time & Importance

Dussehra 2026: Vijayadashami Puja Muhurat and Ravan Dahan Time

Bengal Vijayadashami 2026: In West Bengal, Vijayadashami will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 21. The Aparahna Puja time is from 1:21 PM to 3:39 PM.

Note: Muhurat timings vary slightly depending on your location. For more accurate timings, refer to your local panchang.

All About the Dussehra Festival

The name comes from two Sanskrit words, "dasha," meaning ten, and "hara," meaning defeat. It refers to the defeat of the ten-headed Ravana. Vijayadashami means the tenth day of victory.

The Dussehra festival closes the nine days of Navratri and falls roughly three weeks before Diwali. Its arrival also marks the start of preparations for the festival of lights.

Dussehra Puja Vidhi

The festival is eagerly awaited by both young and old. The festivities for this day begin with kids making a statue of Ravana and the adults preparing for the puja in the evening.

Let us look at the puja vidhi for this day below:

• Use chuna or lime powder to make an image of Ravana burning on the floor.

• Place ten cow dung cakes around the image.

• Offer a plate full of flowers, fruits, sweets, roli, jowar, and rice to the image.

• Perform the puja of the cow dung with Ganga jal, jowar grown during Navratri, roli, chawal, and moli.

• Light an incense stick and a diya next to the image.

• Perform the parikrama of the image created.

• After you end the puja, offer Dakshina and food to Brahmins.

• Sisters should put a tikka on the forehead of their brothers, receiving gifts from them on this occasion.

• The prasad is distributed among family and friends, who then get together to enjoy a hearty dinner.

Read the complete Dussehra Puja Vidhi, including Shastra Puja, Aparajita Puja, and Shami Pooja rituals.

The Story of Dussehra

According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama was the eldest prince of Ayodhya and the son of King Dasharatha. On the eve of his coronation, he was sent to the forest for fourteen years. He accepted the order without complaint.

Goddess Sita and his younger brother, Lord Lakshmana, went with him. The three lived a simple life in the forest, guided by duty and devotion.

Ravana was the king of Lanka. He was a gifted scholar and a devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva. Over time, however, his power turned into pride, and he began to believe that no one could defeat him.

One day, Ravana tricked Lord Rama and Lord Lakshmana away from their hut with the help of a golden deer. He then kidnapped Goddess Sita and carried her to Lanka. The brothers searched the forest in great sorrow.

Along the way, they met the Vanara king Sugriva, who offered his friendship and his army. Lord Hanuman, his devoted minister, became Lord Rama's greatest ally.

Lord Hanuman leapt across the ocean and reached Lanka. He found Goddess Sita in the Ashoka garden and gave her Lord Rama's ring as a sign of hope. Before leaving, he set Lanka's golden city ablaze.

Lord Rama then marched south with the Vanara army. Together they built a great stone bridge across the sea, which is remembered as Ram Setu.

A fierce war followed. Ravana's brother Kumbhakarna and his son Meghnad fell in battle. On the tenth day, Lord Rama defeated Ravana and freed Goddess Sita.

That day came to be celebrated as Vijayadashami. After the fourteen years of exile ended, Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya, and the city welcomed him with rows of lamps. This is the origin of Diwali.

Goddess Durga and Mahishasura

Vijayadashami also honors Goddess Durga. The buffalo demon Mahishasura had received a boon that made him nearly impossible to defeat. He used it to terrorize the three worlds and drive out the gods.

The gods then combined their energies, and Goddess Durga appeared, armed with their weapons. She fought Mahishasura for nine nights. On the tenth day, she defeated him.

This is why Dussehra comes right after the nine nights of Navratri. In eastern India, the day is celebrated as the end of Durga Puja.

Lord Hanuman and Lord Shani

A devotional tradition adds another chapter to the Dussehra story. It says that Ravana once imprisoned Lord Shani in Lanka. When Lord Hanuman arrived in the city, he heard Lord Shani's cries and set him free.

In gratitude, Lord Shani promised not to trouble the devotees of Lord Hanuman. For this reason, many devotees pray to Lord Hanuman to ease the effects of Sade Sati and other difficult planetary periods.

Importance of Dussehra

The importance of Dussehra lies in its message. Ravana stands for ego and pride. Lord Rama stands for truth, duty, and humility.

Ravana's ten heads are often seen as symbols of human weaknesses such as anger, greed, jealousy, selfishness, and pride. The festival is a reminder that these flaws can bring down even the most learned and powerful person.

The story also shows that the struggle between good and evil takes place within every person. When humility and devotion grow, ego slowly loses its hold.

The importance of Dussehra is also tied to new beginnings. Many people consider Vijayadashami an auspicious day to start a new venture, buy something valuable, or begin a new course of study.

Dussehra Shastra Puja

Shastra puja on Dussehra is the worship of weapons. Warriors and kings once cleaned and honored their arms on this day before starting new campaigns.

A well-known story links the day to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. After their period of hiding, they retrieved their weapons from a Shami tree on Vijayadashami. This is why Shami Puja is performed on Dussehra in many regions.

Today, many families also worship the tools of their work, such as books, vehicles, and instruments. Ayudha Puja is closely linked with Mahanavami, so the date can differ by tradition.

How Dussehra Is Celebrated Across India

The Dussehra festival is celebrated in every part of the country, though in different ways. In northern India, Ramlila performances act out the life of Lord Rama in the days before Dussehra. Large crowds gather in open grounds to watch.

In West Bengal and Odisha, idols of Goddess Durga are carried in processions and immersed in rivers and ponds. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, Vidyarambham is observed. Young children write their first letters in rice as a blessing from Goddess Saraswati.

The Dasara festival in Mysuru is famous for its royal procession. Decorated elephants, music, and dance groups move through the city, and the Mysore Palace shines with thousands of lights.

In Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, the celebration begins on Vijayadashami and continues for a week. Villagers carry the idols of local deities to the town in colorful processions.

Ravan Dahan on Dussehra

Ravan Dahan is the most visible ritual of the festival in northern and central India. Towering effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarna are filled with fireworks and set on fire.

There is no single Ravan Dahan time for the whole country. Events usually begin after sunset, and the schedule is set by the local organizers.

The Lesson of Dussehra

The burning of the effigies is a symbol more than a spectacle. It stands for letting go of arrogance, anger, and wrongdoing.

The victories of Lord Rama and Goddess Durga continue to inspire faith in truth and courage. Dussehra remains a festival of new beginnings, celebrated with hope and gratitude.

To know more about the auspicious Dussehra dates and times, connect with Astroyogi astrologers right away!