Dates from Drik Panchang for New Delhi and Kolkata, plus the official Mysuru Dasara, Kullu and Kota festival listings, checked 1 October 2026. Puja timings shift by city, so check a local panchang for the exact muhurat where you are.
Day by day
11SUN OCT
Navratri begins
Ghatasthapana
Nine nights of Navratri start; Mysuru Dasara opens the same day.
19MON OCT
Day before
Durga Ashtami
Durga Ashtami and Sandhi Puja; Maha Ashtami in Kolkata.
20TUE OCT
Main day
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Ravana Dahan after Ramlila; Durga Visarjan in New Delhi.
21WED OCT
Day after
Bengal Vijayadashami
Sindoor Utsav in Kolkata, Jumboo Savari in Mysuru, Kullu Dussehra opens.
27TUE OCT
Kullu
Kullu Dussehra ends
Last day of the week-long fair at Dhalpur Maidan.
6FRI NOV
Kota
Kota Dussehra Fair ends
The fair at Kota’s Dussehra Ground runs from 20 October.
Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, 20 October, the day after the nine nights of Navratri. West Bengal marks Vijayadashami a day later, on Wednesday, 21 October, and that is also the day of Mysuru’s Jumboo Savari procession and the start of Kullu Dussehra.
What happens on each day
From Navratri to VijayadashamiSunday, 11 October to Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Navratri: Sun 11 to Mon 19 OctNavratri opens with Ghatasthapana on 11 October and honors a different form of Goddess Durga each night. For the daily goddesses and colors, see our Navratri 2026 guide.
Durga Ashtami: Mon 19 OctDrik Panchang lists Durga Ashtami and Sandhi Puja on 19 October. In Kolkata, Kumari Puja falls on the same day.
Dussehra: Tue 20 OctVijayadashami celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga’s triumph over the demon Mahishasura. Ramlila enactments end with effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna set alight with fireworks. Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja and Seema Avalanghan are done in the Aparahna window, 1:14 PM to 3:30 PM in New Delhi, and the Vijay Muhurat is 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM. Durga Visarjan, the immersion of the goddess, falls on this day in New Delhi.
Bengal Vijayadashami: Wed 21 OctDrik Panchang’s Kolkata calendar lists Vijayadashami, Durga Visarjan and Sindoor Utsav on 21 October, and the West Bengal government lists Durga Puja Dasami as a holiday that day.
Where to celebrate Dussehra in India
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Culture / Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India
Ramlila and Ravana DahanDelhiRamlila committees stage Dussehra on open grounds in Delhi. The effigies burn on Tuesday, 20 October.FlightsHotels
Durga PujaKolkataKolkata’s Durga Puja calendar runs from Bilva Nimantran on 16 October to Vijayadashami on Wednesday, 21 October, with idol immersion and Sindoor Utsav on the last day.FlightsHotels
Jumboo SavariMysuruMysuru Dasara runs from 11 to 21 October, with the palace lit every evening. On 21 October the Jumboo Savari procession leaves the Palace for Bannimantap after the Pushparchane (4:10 to 4:35 PM).FlightsHotels
Kondephy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Gathering of deitiesKulluKullu Dussehra begins in the days after Vijayadashami and runs for a week at Dhalpur Maidan, as hundreds of village deities are carried in on palanquins. Lord Raghunath is the valley’s ruling deity. The organizing committee has announced 21 to 27 October 2026; some listings show a day earlier, so confirm locally.FlightsHotels
Kota, RajasthanKota Dussehra Fair, 20 October to 6 November 2026
WhereDussehra Ground, Kota, organized by the District Administration
The highlightRavana Dahan, when effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnad, around 23 meters (75 feet) or taller, are set ablaze with fireworks
Around itFolk music and dance, Kavi Sammelan and Mushaira poetry evenings, and festive markets
Dussehra is marked across India. These five places hold some of its biggest public celebrations, and each links to flights and hotels on Wego. For Kolkata’s full puja week, see our Durga Puja guide.
When to arrive
If you arrive
What you get
Trade-off
By Sun, 18 Oct
Durga Ashtami, Dussehra and the 21 October finale in Kolkata and Mysuru
Longest stay
Mon, 19 Oct
Dussehra on 20 October and the 21 October finale
Less time to settle in before the main day
Wed, 21 Oct
Kolkata’s Vijayadashami, Mysuru’s procession or the opening of Kullu Dussehra
You miss Ravana Dahan on 20 October
The day you land decides which celebrations you catch, because the main day and the Bengal and Mysuru finale fall on back-to-back dates.
What the flight costs, by city
Return fares from Wego, checked 1 October 2026 for 18 to 22 October, Dussehra week. One adult, economy, lowest fare shown, in USD. Fares change constantly.
Flying from
Dubai to Delhi1 stop, 18 to 22 October, return, one adultfrom $284Search flights
Singapore to Kolkata1 stop, 18 to 22 October, return, one adultfrom $405Search flights
Dubai to Bengaluru (for Mysuru)1 stop, includes a coach leg, 18 to 22 October, return, one adultfrom $275Search flights
Riyadh to Delhi1 stop, 18 to 22 October, return, one adultfrom $312Search flights
Flying in on Sunday, 18 October puts you in place for Durga Ashtami on Monday, Dussehra on Tuesday and the 21 October celebrations in Kolkata, Mysuru and Kullu.
Plan your Dussehra trip
Compare flights and hotels for Dussehra week on Wego and lock in your dates.
Dussehra 2026 is on Tuesday, 20 October, according to Drik Panchang for New Delhi and the central government holiday list. West Bengal marks Vijayadashami on Wednesday, 21 October.
Is Dussehra 2026 on 20 or 21 October?
Both dates are used. The Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM on 20 October to 2:11 PM on 21 October (New Delhi). Most of India observes Dussehra on 20 October, while Drik Panchang lists Bengal Vijayadashami on 21 October.
What is the Dussehra 2026 Vijay Muhurat?
In New Delhi, the Vijay Muhurat is 1:59 PM to 2:45 PM on 20 October, and the Aparahna puja window is 1:14 PM to 3:30 PM. Timings shift by city.
When is Durga Visarjan in 2026?
Durga Visarjan is on Tuesday, 20 October in New Delhi, with a muhurat of 1:14 PM to 3:30 PM. In Kolkata, Drik Panchang lists it on Wednesday, 21 October.
When is Mysuru Dasara 2026?
Mysuru Dasara runs from Sunday, 11 October to Wednesday, 21 October 2026. The Jumboo Savari procession is on 21 October, after the Pushparchane (4:10 to 4:35 PM).
When is Kullu Dussehra 2026?
Kullu Dussehra 2026 is announced for 21 to 27 October at Dhalpur Maidan, according to the festival committee as reported by Hill Post.
Is Dussehra a public holiday in India?
Yes. India Post’s 2026 holiday list shows Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi) on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Wego flight search, sampled 1 October 2026 in USD.
How these figures were produced
Festival dates and puja timings are for New Delhi from Drik Panchang, with Kolkata dates from its Kolkata calendar. They follow the Hindu lunar calendar and can differ by a day between regions.
Mysuru, Kullu and Kota dates come from the festival organizers’ published schedules, which can change.
Fares are the lowest economy return for one adult shown on Wego, flying out Sunday 18 October and home Thursday 22 October, from a search on 1 October 2026.
Image credits: Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Culture, via Wikimedia Commons (GODL-India). Kullu: Kondephy, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Other photos via Pexels.
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
