Major festivalदशहरा / विजयादशमी
Dussehra
Vijayadashami
Local names:दशहरा(Hindi)ଦଶହରା(Odia)দশেরা(Bengali)દશેરા(Gujarati)தசரா(Tamil)ദസറ(Malayalam)
Rama's victory over Ravana — the triumph of dharma.
Gregorian date
21 October 2026
Wednesday
Tithi
Shukla Dashami
Ashwin (September – October)
Duration
single-day
Significance
Commemorates two epic events: Rama's defeat of Ravana, and Durga's slaying of the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Universally considered the most auspicious day of the year for new beginnings (no muhurta needed).
What happens on the day
- •Burning Ravana effigies (in many regions)
- •Shami tree worship in some traditions
- •Apte-leaves exchange (gold-symbolic)
- •New tools / vehicles blessed (Ayudh puja)
Auspicious for
- ✓Starting new ventures
- ✓Buying new vehicles / property
- ✓Major life decisions
- ✓Any major auspicious action
About the month of Ashwinआश्विन
Sharad Navratri (9 nights of the Mother Goddess), Dussehra / Vijayadashami (Ram's victory over Ravana), Sharad Purnima fall in this month.