HinduCalendar.in New Delhi

Vijayadashami

Also called Dussehra, Dasara, Bijoya Dashami, Ayudha Pooja

When

Tuesday, 20 October 2026 in 54 days

New Delhi ยท change location

Sunrise6:28 AM
Sunset5:42 PM
Navami until 12:50 PM
at sunrise. This observance is governed by aparahna, not by the sunrise tithi โ€” which is why the tithi named here is often not the one the festival is named for.
Shravana until 6:02 PM
2:54 PM โ€“ 4:18 PM

See the complete panchang for that day โ†’

Governed by

Why this date?

Dashami of the Shukla Paksha of Ashvina. The traditional window for the day's acts is APARAHNA โ€” the afternoon โ€” and the vijaya muhurta within it, which is why the effigy burning and the crossing of the boundary are evening rather than morning events.

  • 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†’

Dates in the coming years

Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.

What In short

The tenth day. Durga's victory over Mahishasura in the east and south; Rama's victory over Ravana in the north. Also the day tools, instruments and books are honoured, and the traditional day to begin learning.

Why The reason behind it

Two victory narratives converge on one date and the tradition has never needed to reconcile them. The practical residue is the same in both: this is the day to start โ€” a child's first letters, a new instrument, a new venture.

Traditional basis

Devi Mahatmya โ€” The tenth-day victory over Mahishasura.

Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda โ€” The northern reading of the day as Rama's victory.

Shami-puja custom (Mahabharata, Virata Parva) โ€” The Pandavas' recovery of their weapons from the shami tree is the basis of the tool-worship and the boundary-crossing rite.

How At home, step by step

  1. Complete the Navaratri observance and immerse or conclude the Goddess's worship.
  2. Clean and arrange tools, instruments, vehicles and books; garland them and offer worship โ€” this is Ayudha Pooja.
  3. Perform the shami puja and, where the custom is kept, cross the village or town boundary in the aparahna.
  4. Begin the year's new learning: vidyarambha for a young child, the first letters written in rice or sand.
  5. Attend the Ravana effigy burning in regions where it is kept.
  6. Exchange greetings and sweets; in Bengal this is the day for bijoya visits to elders.
What you'll need
  • Shami (or apta) leaves
  • Flowers and garlands for tools and vehicles
  • Rice or sand tray for a child's first letters
  • Sweets for distribution
Fasting and breaking the fast

Not a fasting day. Where the Navaratri fast has run, this is the day it is concluded.

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

For children

Today good beat bad โ€” Durga beat the buffalo demon, and Rama beat Ravana. It is also the best day of the whole year to start learning something new.

Common questions

Is Ayudha Pooja on the same day as Vijayadashami?
Not everywhere. In Tamil practice Ayudha Pooja is generally kept on Maha Navami, the day before. Always read the date this site shows for your region rather than assuming the two coincide โ€” that assumption has put wrong dates on published calendars before.

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.

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.