An evening of Ramleela, the glow of arati and families gathering to remember Lord Ramachandra, Dussehra brings devotees together in a special way. Also known as Vijayadashami, the festival honours His victory over Ravana.
If you are arranging your worship or planning a temple visit, it helps to know the festival date, afternoon puja timings and evening programme separately. Here are the details for Dussehra 2026, followed by the proposed celebration schedule at Gupt Vrindavan Dham.
When Will Dussehra Be Celebrated in 2026?
Dussehra 2026 will be celebrated on Tuesday, 20 October, according to the general Hindu festival calendar. It falls on Ashwin Shukla Dashami, the tenth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin. drikpanchang.com
For devotees attending Sri Ramachandra Vijayotsava, the temple’s announced festival calendar should guide their visit.
Dussehra's significance lies in the story of Lord Rama’s victory and its devotional message.
Dussehra 2026 Dashami Tithi and Puja Timings
For those observing Vijayadashami on 20 October, the table below shows the Dashami tithi and afternoon worship windows. The puja timings are for Jaipur, in Indian Standard Time (IST).
Dashami Tithi begins: 20 October 2026 at 12:50 PM.
Dashami Tithi ends: 21 October 2026 at 2:11 PM.
Vijay Muhurat: 20 October 2026, from 2:06 PM to 2:51 PM.
Aparahna Puja time: 20 October 2026, from 1:20 PM to 3:37 PM.
All timings are in IST. These puja windows are calculated for Jaipur and may vary by location.
Dussehra 2026 Programme at Gupt Vrindavan Dham
The proposed programme brings together prasadam, a palaki procession, Ramleela, Maha Arati and Ravan Dahan. Visitors can plan their arrival around the activities they wish to attend.
Regular morning programme: Until 9:15 AM.
Rajbhog feast prasadam: 12:30 PM onwards.
Palaki procession towards Vrindavan lawn: 5:50 PM to 6:05 PM.
Welcome and announcements: 6:10 PM to 6:15 PM.
Ramleela drama performance: 6:15 PM to 8:15 PM.
Felicitation of drama artists: 8:15 PM to 8:20 PM.
Maha Arati: 8:20 PM to 8:35 PM.
Ravan Dahan: 8:35 PM to 8:45 PM.
Palaki return programme: 8:55 PM onwards.
If you would like to watch the full Ramleela performance, plan to arrive before 6:15 PM. The evening continues with the felicitation of the artists and Maha Arati before Ravan Dahan.
The gives programme timings supplied for this draft. These are scheduled event times, rather than panchang muhurats.
Across India, the festival takes different forms. Our guide to Dussehra celebrations describes those regional traditions.
Dussehra Dates for Upcoming Years
For families who like to plan, these are the currently listed Dussehra holiday dates for the next four years.
Dussehra 2027: Saturday, 9 October.
Dussehra 2028: Wednesday, 27 September.
Dussehra 2029: Tuesday, 16 October.
Dussehra 2030: Sunday, 6 October.
These are general holiday-calendar dates. Confirm the temple’s festival announcement when planning a visit in a future year.
