Bijoya Dashami
Also called Vijaya Dashami (eastern reckoning), Durga Visarjan, Sindoor Khela
When
Wednesday, 21 October 2026 in 41 days
New Delhi ยท change location
at sunrise. This observance is governed by udaya, not by the sunrise tithi โ which is why the tithi named here is often not the one the festival is named for.
See the complete panchang for that day โ
Governed by udaya
Why this date?
Ashwin Shukla Dashami taken at SUNRISE, which is the eastern immersion day. The northern Vijayadashami is the same tithi taken at aparahna, the afternoon, and in years where Dashami begins around midday the two fall on different civil days. This site lists them separately for that reason and not merely because the names differ.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- The governing period is stated, and the rule is applied to it
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate โ
What In short
The immersion. The Goddess is given a farewell, the married women perform sindoor khela, and the image is carried to the river. The day ends with Bijoya greetings โ embraces, sweets, and visits to elders.
- Deity: Durga
Why The reason behind it
Durga is a daughter visiting her parents' home for five days, and Dashami is when she returns to Kailash. The mood is explicitly one of departure rather than triumph: the sindoor khela and the sweets are a send-off, and the greetings that follow are what the household does after a guest has gone.
Traditional basis
Bengal Durga Puja paddhati โ Prescribes the darpan visarjan, the farewell rites and the immersion on Dashami.
Regional Bijoya custom โ The sindoor khela and the post-immersion greeting rounds are carried by household practice.
How At home, step by step
- The darpan visarjan is performed โ the Goddess's reflection is immersed in a vessel of water before the image goes.
- Married women offer sindoor to the Goddess and then to each other.
- The image is carried in procession to the river and immersed.
- Bijoya greetings follow: visits to elders, embraces and sweets.
What you'll need
- Sindoor
- Sweets โ narkel naru and nimki in particular
- A mirror for the darpan visarjan
- Flowers and a garland for the farewell
Fasting and breaking the fast
Not a fasting day.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice โ if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
Personal In your region
- Bengal (Bengali)
Sindoor khela and the immersion processions are the day's defining images; Bijoya visiting continues for days after. - Odisha (Odia)
The immersion is kept with the same sequence. - Assam (Assamese)
Observed within the regional puja tradition.
For children
The day Durga goes home. Everyone says goodbye, the married women put red powder on each other, and the statue is taken to the river. Then there are a lot of sweets.
Common questions
- Why is this on a different day from Dussehra sometimes?
- Because the same tithi is taken by different parts of the day. Bijoya Dashami is taken at sunrise, for the immersion; Vijayadashami is taken at aparahna, for the victory rites. When Dashami begins around midday they separate.
- Is Bijoya Dashami just the Bengali name for Dussehra?
- They are the same tithi and often the same day, but they are not the same observance โ one is an immersion and a farewell, the other a victory. The names are not translations of each other.
Not the same day
These fall nearby or share the tithi, and are often confused with this observance. They are separate, and this site dates them separately.
- Vijayadashami / Dussehra
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.