Vijayadashami (Dussehra)
Victory of dharma; Dashami prevailing at Aparahna, with Shravana nakshatra deciding the doubtful years. Vijaya Muhurat is observed for new undertakings.
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- CategoryFestival Major
- Defining tithi / momentShukla Paksha Dashami: to
- Lunar monthAshwin Shukla Paksha (same name in Amanta and Purnimanta)
Timings on Tuesday, 20 October 2026
- Aparahna to 2 h 16 min · 20/10/2026 (Tue)
Rule applied: Smarta — Vijayadashami rule: Dashami lasts into the next day, but Shravana nakshatra is not at that day's Aparahna alone, so the first day stays.
Why this date?
- The tithi covers the required time (Aparahna) on two consecutive days; the day with the greater coverage is taken.
- Dashami lasts into the next day, but Shravana nakshatra does not prevail at that day's Aparahna alone, so the first day stays.
Puja vidhi
Mantra & Bhakti
Recipes, stories and temples
Story for children
Across India
How this festival is celebrated in different regions, with the regional names and each date's rule.
How the date is determined
- The date is Ashwin Shukla Paksha Dashami; the month name is the same in the Amanta and Purnimanta systems.
- It falls on the day when this tithi prevails during Aparahna — the fourth fifth of the daytime, in the afternoon.
- If the tithi covers the whole of that period on both days, the first day is taken.
- If it covers parts of that period on both days that differ by less than 24 minutes, they count as equal and the first day is taken; the whole period on one day is preferred to a part on the other.
- If the tithi prevails at that time on two consecutive days, the day on which it covers more of that period is taken.
- If the tithi touches that period on neither day, the first of the two days it touches is taken.
- In the doubtful case, when Dashami is taken on the first day because it covers more of that day's Aparahna (or the Aparahna of neither day) and still lasts at least three muhurtas after the next sunrise, Shravana nakshatra at the next day's Aparahna (and not at the first day's) moves Vijayadashami to the next day.
- In a year with an Adhik month of the same name, it is observed in the regular (Nija) month.
Traditional variation
When Dashami covers the first day's Aparahna and lasts into the next morning, Shravana nakshatra at the next day's Aparahna moves Vijayadashami to the next day (e.g. 8 Oct 2019, 5 Oct 2022); without it the first day stays. Regional Panchangs may differ in such years.
This is the date given by the rule shown above for the selected place. It is not the only valid date: regional Panchangs, family customs and sampradayas may observe it on a different day.
Rule source: Vijayadashami-nirnaya (Dharma Sindhu, Pariccheda 2, Ashvina Shukla Dashami; Nirnaya Sindhu, Pariccheda 2): Aparahna Dashami, preferably Navami-joined. The whole Aparahna on both days, or equal parts of both (samya: within one ghati, 24 minutes) → the first day, not doubtful. Otherwise karmakala-vyapti (Nirnaya Sindhu, Pariccheda 1): the whole Aparahna on one day and a part on the other → the complete one (19 Oct 2018); clearly unequal parts (vaishamya) → the greater. Doubtful case: a first-day Dashami (by greater coverage, or at neither Aparahna) that lasts at least three muhurtas after the next sunrise (Dharma Sindhu, Pariccheda 2, Vijayadashami: the tri-muhurta minimum). Then Shravana at the next day's Aparahna, not the first's → the next day; else the first. DoPT holiday OMs: 19 Oct 2018, 8 Oct 2019 (Shravana), 25 Oct 2020, 15 Oct 2021, 24 Oct 2023, 12 Oct 2024, 2 Oct 2025, 20 Oct 2026, 9 Oct 2027; Government of Odisha 5 Oct 2022 (Shravana), 24 Oct 2023, 2 Oct 2025, 20 Oct 2026.
Traditions may vary by region and Panchang convention. Times are shown for the selected place, time zone and calculation profile.
Calculated with engine 1.4.2 · rules rules-2026-09-29-a0a4505e · profile north-lahiri-calibrated v1 · ayanamsa lahiri_drik_compat · astronomy-engine@2.1.19 · Asia/Kolkata
Dates in 2026
| Date | Defining tithi / moment | Time windows | Decision notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/10/2026 (Tue)
Next
Ashwin Shukla Paksha (same name in Amanta and Purnimanta) |
Shukla Paksha Dashami: to |
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Dates in 2027
| Date | Defining tithi / moment | Time windows | Decision notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/10/2027 (Sat)
Ashwin Shukla Paksha (same name in Amanta and Purnimanta) |
Shukla Paksha Dashami: to |
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