Shukla paksha · Ashwin · amanta reckoning
Sun, 10 Oct
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2027 is on Sunday, 10 October. It is Dashami of Shukla paksha in Ashwin.
2028: Wednesday, 27 September 2028
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Sunday, 10 October 2027
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is not a Gregorian date. It is Shukla paksha tithi 10 of Ashwin in the amanta reckoning, and the Gregorian day it lands on moves by up to a month between years because twelve lunations fall about eleven days short of a solar year.
Aparahna in New Delhi falls at 2:27 PM on that day, and that is the instant the tithi has to be running at for the day to carry the observance. It is computed for this city rather than assumed, because it is what decides the date.
The two instants above are the astronomy and are not in dispute. The day is an interpretation of them: this observance is decided at aparahna, so it belongs to the day whose aparahna the tithi carries — not simply to the day the tithi begins.
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, is the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin: the day Rama's victory over Ravana and the Goddess's victory over Mahishasura are celebrated, right after the nine nights of Sharad Navratri. Dussehra 2027 is on Sunday, 10 October 2027 in New Delhi. Do the Aparajita and Shami puja in the afternoon window (not available this year, as Dashami does not run then) or the Vijay Muhurat (2:04 PM to 2:51 PM); Ravan Dahan follows after sunset, 5:57 PM to 8:25 PM.
| Muhurat | Time in New Delhi | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Vijay Muhurat | 2:04 PM to 2:51 PMThe 11th of the day's fifteen muhurtas on Vijayadashami. | The eleventh of the day's fifteen muhurtas, in the early afternoon, a little under an hour long. Its name means victory, and tradition holds that work begun in it reaches its goal, so it is the favoured time for Shami puja, Shastra puja, setting out on a journey, opening new account books or bringing home a vehicle. |
| Aparahna puja time | Dashami does not run during this window this year. | Aparahna is the afternoon, the fourth of the day's five parts. Tradition sets the Aparajita puja, the Shami puja and the old custom of crossing the town's boundary (seemollanghan) in this window, and it is also the window that decides which day is Vijayadashami. If you can do only one puja on Dussehra, do it here. |
| Ravan Dahan (after sunset) | 5:57 PM to 8:25 PMPradosh kaal after sunset on Vijayadashami. | Pradosh kaal, the twilight after sunset. The effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna are burned in this window at the close of the Ramlila. Each ground's committee fixes its own start, so treat this as the traditional window for New Delhi and check the local announcement. |
| Shravana nakshatra | 10:18 AM (9 Oct) to 1:25 PMWhen the Moon is in Shravana nakshatra around Vijayadashami. | When Shravana nakshatra meets Dashami in the afternoon, almanacs treat Vijayadashami as especially auspicious, and in some years it decides which of two days is kept. Nothing extra is done in it; it is shown so you can see why one calendar's date can differ from another's. |
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:44 AM to 12:31 PMThe 8th of the day's fifteen muhurtas, around local noon. | The midday muhurta, a general auspicious window for signing papers, paying for a purchase or starting work if the Vijay Muhurat does not suit you. By convention there is no Abhijit Muhurat on a Wednesday. |
| Auspicious choghadiya (day) |
| The day's Amrit, Shubh, Labh and Chal choghadiyas. Dussehra counts as auspicious all day, but traders and families buying gold, a vehicle or a home often still choose one of these for the payment, the delivery or the shop puja. |
| Window | Time in New Delhi | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat | 11:44 AM to 12:31 PM | Auspicious |
| Amrit Kaal | 4:41 AM to 6:29 AM | Most Auspicious |
| Brahma Muhurat | 4:39 AM to 5:29 AM | Auspicious |
These are the spans classical muhurta sets aside for beginnings. They are descriptions of a convention, not warnings: the observance is kept on its day regardless, and nothing here needs to be bought, corrected or remedied.
| Window | Time in New Delhi |
|---|---|
| Rahu Kaal | 4:30 PM to 5:57 PM |
| Yamaganda Kaal | 12:08 PM to 1:35 PM |
| Durmuhurta First | 4:24 PM to 5:11 PM |
| Varjyam | 5:55 PM to 7:42 PM |
Every time above is computed for New Delhi around Sunday, 10 October 2027, from the sunrise, sunset and the positions of the Sun and Moon for this city. The Vedic day runs sunrise to sunrise, so a window whose clock time falls after midnight still belongs to the evening before; a time on another date carries that date.
Bathe early, wear clean clothes and tidy the puja place. If you fasted all nine days of Navratri and did not break the fast on Navami, break it this morning after a short prayer, once Navami has ended (the Dashami window above shows when), with a simple sattvik meal.
Offer roli, rice and a flower to the kalash set up at Ghatasthapana and pray before lifting the coconut. Sprinkle the kalash water through the house, keep a few barley sprouts (jaware) for the puja place, the locker or behind the ear, and put the rest into a garden, a pot of soil or clean flowing water.
Before the afternoon window, set a wooden chowki with a red or yellow cloth facing east or north, and keep the samagri ready: the Ram darbar picture, roli, rice, flowers, a lamp, incense, sweets, mauli, and the things you will worship — tools, vehicle keys, books, instruments.
Sip water three times (achaman), hold a little water and rice, and state your intention: your name, the day, and that you are doing the Vijayadashami puja for the family's well-being and success. Offer Ganesha roli, rice and a flower first, so the puja goes without obstacles.
In the afternoon window, clean a spot in the north-east of the house and draw an eight-petalled lotus with kumkum, sandal paste or rangoli, with a little rice at its centre. Invoke Devi Aparajita there with 'Om Aparajitayai Namah' and her companions Jaya and Vijaya on either side; offer flowers (blue aparajita flowers if you have them), rice, a lamp, incense and a sweet, and pray to stay undefeated by the year's obstacles.
Offer Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman roli, rice, flowers, tulsi leaves, a ghee lamp, incense and bhog (jalebi, laddu or kheer). Chant 'Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama' 108 times on a mala, or read a few chapters of the Sundar Kand.
Clean the family's weapons if it keeps any, and the tools, vehicles, account books, school books and instruments. Mark each with roli or turmeric, tie a mauli thread, offer flowers and rice and wave a lamp before them. Many families do this in the Vijay Muhurat and begin something new — a lesson, a ledger, a first drive — right after.
Go to a Shami tree, or a Shami plant in a pot. Pour water at its roots, apply roli and rice, tie mauli, light a lamp and recite the Shami shloka. Ask the tree's leave and take a few leaves, or gather fallen ones, to keep in the puja place and share with family and friends.
Sing the aarti of Rama — 'Shri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhaju Man' is sung in many homes — and the family's Devi aarti, since the day also closes Navratri. Share the bhog as prasad.
The old custom is to walk out past the village boundary after the Aparajita and Shami puja, a sign of setting out to win. Families keep it now by going a short way north-east, often to the Shami tree or a temple, and coming home.
After sunset, watch the effigies burn at your local Ramlila ground, the close of the Ramlila and the re-enactment of Rama's victory. Back home, light a lamp at the door.
Touch the feet of elders and take their blessings, visit relatives with sweets, and exchange Shami or apta leaves as 'gold' where that is the family custom.
ॐ अपराजितायै नमः
Om Aparajitayai Namah
Meaning: Salutations to Aparajita, the goddess who is never defeated.
When and how: At the Aparajita puja in the afternoon: say it with each offering — flower, rice, lamp, incense, sweet — or count 108 on a mala.
शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी ।
अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियवादिनी ॥
Shami Shamayate Papam Shami Shatruvinashini, Arjunasya Dhanurdhari Ramasya Priyavadini
Meaning: The Shami takes away wrongdoing; the Shami destroys the enemy. It held Arjuna's bow, and it spoke words dear to Rama. (Popular prints often read 'priyadarshini', dear to Rama's eyes; the older texts that quote the verse read 'priyavadini'.)
When and how: A traditional verse recited at the Shami tree, once or three times, after offering water, roli, rice and the lamp.
श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम
Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama
Meaning: Shri Rama, victory to Rama, victory, victory to Rama.
When and how: At the Ram darbar puja: 108 times on a mala, or sung as kirtan in the evening.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shaktirupena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
Meaning: To the Goddess who dwells in all beings as power: salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations again and again.
When and how: From the Devi Mahatmya, chapter 5. Recite it three or eleven times at the close of Navratri while offering flowers to Devi.
श्री रामचन्द्र कृपालु भजुमन हरण भवभय दारुणं।
नव कंज लोचन कंज मुख कर कंज पद कंजारुणं॥१॥
कन्दर्प अगणित अमित छवि नव नील नीरद सुन्दरं।
पटपीत मानहुँ तडित रुचि शुचि नौमि जनक सुतावरं॥२॥
भजु दीनबन्धु दिनेश दानव दैत्य वंश निकन्दनं।
रघुनन्द आनन्द कन्द कोशल चन्द दशरथ नन्दनं॥३॥
शिर मुकुट कुंडल तिलक चारु उदारु अङ्ग विभूषणं।
आजानु भुज शर चाप धर संग्राम जित खरदूषणं॥४॥
इति वदति तुलसीदास शंकर शेष मुनि मन रंजनं।
मम हृदय कंज निवास कुरु कामादि खलदल गंजनं॥५॥
मन जाहि राच्यो मिलहि सो वर सहज सुन्दर सांवरो।
करुणा निधान सुजान शील स्नेह जानत रावरो॥६॥
एहि भांति गौरी असीस सुन सिय सहित हिय हरषित अली।
तुलसी भवानिहि पूजी पुनि-पुनि मुदित मन मन्दिर चली॥७॥
जानी गौरी अनुकूल सिय हिय हरषु न जाइ कहि।
मंजुल मंगल मूल वाम अङ्ग फरकन लगे॥
Shri Ramchandra kripalu bhajuman haran bhavbhay darunam.
Nav kanj lochan kanj mukh kar kanj pad kanjarunam. (1)
Kandarp aganit amit chhavi nav neel neerad sundaram.
Patpeet manahun tadit ruchi shuchi naumi Janak sutavaram. (2)
Bhaju deenbandhu dinesh danav daitya vansh nikandanam.
Raghunand anand kand Koshal chand Dashrath nandanam. (3)
Shir mukut kundal tilak charu udaru ang vibhushanam.
Ajanu bhuj shar chap dhar sangram jit Khardushanam. (4)
Iti vadati Tulsidas Shankar Shesh muni man ranjanam.
Mam hriday kanj nivas kuru kamadi khaldal ganjanam. (5)
Man jahi rachyo milahi so var sahaj sundar sanvaro.
Karuna nidhan sujan sheel sneh janat ravaro. (6)
Ehi bhanti Gauri asees sun Siya sahit hiya harshit ali.
Tulsi Bhavanihi pooji puni-puni mudit man mandir chali. (7)
Jani Gauri anukool Siya hiya harashu na jai kahi.
Manjul mangal mool vam ang pharkan lage.
Text as it is commonly sung: the five stanzas of Tulsidas's Vinaya Patrika (pad 45), then two stanzas and a sortha from his Ramcharitmanas (Bal Kand, doha 236, where Gauri blesses Sita), which are not part of the Vinaya Patrika hymn. The Gita Press Vinaya Patrika prints only the five stanzas, in the same words. Printed text
Ravana, the king of Lanka, carried Sita away from the forest of Panchavati. Rama and Lakshmana searched for her with Hanuman and the army of Sugriva, built a bridge across the sea and fought a long war in which Kumbhakarna and Meghnad fell. Tradition holds that on the tenth day of the bright half of Ashwin Rama killed Ravana and freed Sita, and every Ramlila ends by burning his effigy on that day.
The Bengali retelling, the Krittivasi Ramayana, adds that before the last battle Rama worshipped Durga out of season to win her blessing — the 'untimely awakening' (akal bodhan) that Bengal's autumn Durga Puja keeps. One of his 108 lotuses went missing, and Rama, called lotus-eyed, made to offer one of his own eyes in its place; the Goddess stopped him and blessed his victory.
In the Devi tradition the day is the Goddess's victory. The buffalo-demon Mahishasura, whom no god could overcome, was met by Durga, born of the gods' combined power; the nine nights of Navratri are remembered as her battle, and Vijayadashami, 'the tenth of victory', as its end.
The Mahabharata gives the Shami tree its place. Before their thirteenth year in disguise at King Virata's court, the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree outside the city. When the year was over, Arjuna took his bow Gandiva down from that tree and turned back the Kaurava army — which is why, it is said, weapons and the Shami are worshipped on this day.
Vijayadashami means 'the tenth day of victory', and Dussehra comes from dasha-hara, 'the taking away of the ten' — Ravana's ten heads, which many teachers read as ten faults to give up, from anger and greed to pride. Coming straight after the nine nights of Sharad Navratri, the day carries both stories: Rama's victory and the Goddess's.
It is counted among the most auspicious days of the year; in Maharashtra and the Deccan it is one of the 'three and a half muhurats' (sade teen muhurat), when new work may begin without searching for a special time. Children start school and music lessons, traders open new account books, and families buy vehicles, gold and homes — though the puja itself is still kept in the afternoon or the Vijay Muhurat.
Across India the day looks different — effigies burning in the north, Bijoya and Sindoor Khela in Bengal, the Jamboo Savari in Mysuru, children writing their first letters in Kerala — but the meaning is shared: what is right wins, and the year's new beginnings are made under that sign.
Many families light a ghee or mustard-oil lamp under a Shami tree on Dussehra evening. Tradition links the Shami with victory and with Shani, and the lamp is believed to bring steadiness to the year's work.
Leaves brought home from the Shami puja are kept in the puja place, the cash box or the locker until the next Dussehra; by custom they stand for gold, and for prosperity kept rather than spent.
A lesson, a ledger, a business plan, a journey: tradition holds that what begins in the Vijay Muhurat on Vijayadashami reaches its end. It costs nothing but the timing.
In North India, seeing the Indian roller (Neelkanth) on Dussehra is held lucky; the bird's name, 'blue-throated', is also a name of Shiva. Look for one in open fields or on wires; never buy or 'release' a caged bird — the species is protected by law.
Reading the Sundar Kand, or the Hanuman Chalisa seven times, is a traditional way to ask for courage and freedom from fear before a hard task.
Writing 'Shri Ram' 108 times in a fresh notebook is an old devotional practice on Vijayadashami, and a gentle way for a child to begin writing on this day of new learning.
Feeding the hungry, giving clothes, or buying a student's books is the traditional daan of the day — done quietly and within your means.
A modern reading of the dahan that many families keep: each person names one fault or habit to give up this year and holds to it from the evening of the dahan.
Two years back, this year, and two ahead. Past years are kept rather than dropped so you can check the engine against a calendar you already have.
| Year | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Saturday, 12 October 2024 | past |
| 2025 | Thursday, 2 October 2025 | past |
| 2026This year | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | past |
| 2027 | Sunday, 10 October 2027 | upcoming |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 27 September 2028 | upcoming |
Every row is computed for New Delhi from the same ephemeris, not looked up. Sunrise decides which day a tithi names, and sunrise differs across India by more than an hour, so a date computed for Delhi can be a day out elsewhere.
In 2027, for New Delhi: Dashami covers the whole afternoon (aparahna) of 9 October, and some calendars keep Dussehra then. It is kept on 10 October: Dashami still runs at that sunrise and Shravana nakshatra lasts from sunrise into the afternoon, the yoga that moves Vijayadashami to the second day.
There is no single authority that settles a Hindu festival date, and the divergence is genuine rather than sloppy. Three causes account for almost all of it.
So this page shows its working. If your pandit or your family almanac gives a different day, the instants above will usually show you exactly why — and that is more useful than a date asserted without one.
Sunday, 10 October 2027. It is Dashami of Shukla paksha in Ashwin, and that tithi runs from 9 Oct, 9:02 AM to 10 Oct, 11:41 AM.
Three honest reasons. The tithi can be running at the deciding moment on two days or on none. North India reckons the month purnimanta and the south and west amanta, which names the same krishna fortnight differently. And almanacs differ on which moment of the day decides an observance. The instants above are the astronomy; the day is an interpretation of them.
Dussehra 2027 is on Sunday, 10 October 2027. In New Delhi the Vijay Muhurat is 2:04 PM to 2:51 PM and the afternoon puja window (aparahna) is not available this year, as Dashami does not run then; Dashami tithi runs 9:02 AM (9 Oct) to 11:41 AM.
Ravan Dahan is held after sunset in pradosh kaal: 5:57 PM to 8:25 PM in New Delhi on Sunday, 10 October 2027. Each Ramlila committee announces its own start in or near that window, so check your ground's notice and arrive early for a place at the barricade.
Dussehra itself is one day, Sunday, 10 October 2027. The 'ten days' people count are the nine nights of Sharad Navratri plus Vijayadashami; most towns' Ramlila runs through those nights and ends with Ravan Dahan. Mysuru Dasara spans the same ten days, while Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami and runs a week.
In short: bathe and close the Navratri kalash in the morning; in the afternoon do the Ganesh puja, the Aparajita puja on an eight-petalled lotus drawn in the north-east, the Ram darbar puja, the worship of tools, vehicles and books, and the Shami puja; sing the aarti; and in the evening watch Ravan Dahan and take your elders' blessings. The step-by-step vidhi is above.
Shastra Puja is the worship of weapons and tools on Vijayadashami, kept especially by soldiers, police, Rajput and Maratha families and craftspeople. Clean the weapons or tools, mark them with roli or turmeric, tie mauli, offer flowers and rice, wave a lamp and pray that they serve only right ends; many do it in the Vijay Muhurat, 2:04 PM to 2:51 PM in New Delhi.
Yes, they are two names for the same day, Ashwin Shukla Dashami. North India mostly says Dussehra and remembers Rama's victory over Ravana; the south, the east and the dharma texts say Vijayadashami and also remember the Goddess's victory over Mahishasura.
No. Ganga Dussehra falls on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, in May or June, and celebrates the descent of the Ganga with a holy dip; Dussehra or Vijayadashami falls on Ashwin Shukla Dashami, in September or October, right after Navratri. They share only the Dashami and the 'ten' in their names.
It marks two victories of right over wrong: by tradition Rama killed Ravana on this day, and Durga ended her nine-night battle with Mahishasura. The Mahabharata adds the Shami tree, from which Arjuna took back his bow after the Pandavas' year in disguise, which is why weapons and the Shami are worshipped.
'Vijaya' means victory and 'dashami' the tenth day of the lunar fortnight, so Vijayadashami is 'the tenth of victory'. Dussehra, from dasha-hara, means 'the taking away of the ten' — Ravana's ten heads, often read as ten faults to give up.
The Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree before their year in disguise, and Arjuna took his bow back from it before turning back the Kaurava army; the Shami shloka also says it spoke words dear to Rama. So on Dussehra it is given water, roli, rice, mauli and a lamp, the shloka is recited, and a few leaves are brought home as a sign of victory and prosperity.
For the Aparajita puja, 'Om Aparajitayai Namah'; at the Shami tree, the Shami shloka 'Shami shamayate papam'; and for Rama, 'Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama' 108 times. All three are given above in Devanagari with their meaning.
Both customs are followed. Many families end the fast on Navami after the havan and Kanya Pujan; the dharma texts set the parana on Dashami, once Navami has ended. If your family follows the second, eat after the morning prayer on Sunday, 10 October 2027; in New Delhi Dashami runs 9:02 AM (9 Oct) to 11:41 AM.
Yes. Vijayadashami is counted among the most auspicious days of the year, and in Maharashtra it is one of the three and a half muhurats, when purchases and new ventures need no special time. Many families still pay or take delivery in the Vijay Muhurat (2:04 PM to 2:51 PM) or a good day choghadiya, and do a small vehicle puja before the first drive.
Nothing in tradition forbids it. The real concerns are practical — smoke, very loud crackers, heat and pushing crowds — so watch from well back or from a rooftop, keep water and a mask with you, and leave before the rush. Watching it on television is just as much a part of the festival.
