When is Dussehra?
In 2026, Dussehra falls on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. It is classified here as a Indian public holiday.
History of Dussehra
Dussehra, also called Vijay Dashmi, concludes the Navratri season in many Hindu traditions. It is widely associated with the victory of Rama over Ravana in the Ramayana and, in other traditions, with the goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. Those narratives make the festival an annual reflection on courage, justice and the defeat of harmfulness.
The holiday has no single Indian form. Ramlila performances and the burning of Ravana effigies are familiar in many northern cities; elsewhere Durga Puja processions, worship, music and family visits give the day another emphasis. India Post lists Dussehra as an All India holiday, while its exact date changes with the Hindu lunisolar calendar.
The central order fixed Dussehra on Tuesday, October 20 in 2026 and lists it among fourteen compulsory holidays for central administrative offices outside Delhi. Separate restricted dates cover Saptami and Mahashtami, while states and institutions may recognise longer Durga Puja or Dasara breaks. This structure matters because one central holiday cannot represent the entire festival season or every regional calendar. Mysuru Dasara, Kullu Dussehra, Bengali Durga Puja and north Indian Ramlila traditions have different narratives, timetables and public forms.
How Dussehra is observed
A compulsory central-government holiday dated October 20 in 2026; regional Durga Puja and Dasara calendars may include additional dates.
Traditions of Dussehra
Ramlila and Ravana effigies
Many north Indian communities stage the Ramayana before burning Ravana effigies, with municipal permissions and safety controls shaping public events.
Durga Puja conclusion
In eastern India, Vijayadashami closes Durga Puja through farewell rituals and image immersion after several days of worship and community art.
Distinct regional Dasara traditions
Mysuru’s procession, Kullu’s festival gathering and household worship elsewhere demonstrate that Dussehra is not one uniform national ritual.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Indian official and legal guidance. State and employer schedules can differ; annual central-government holiday notices should be confirmed for the final civil dates.
History sources: India Post: All India Holidays 2026, Government of India: 2026 central-government holiday order, National Portal of India: Know India, Press Information Bureau: central-government holiday policy, Reserve Bank of India: state and Union Territory bank-holiday matrix.
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