Dussehra 2027
Saturday, 9 October 2027 (in 335 days)
Rule: Ashvina Shukla Dashami; date set each year by DoPT
Ashwin, Shukla Dashami
- Dashami Tithi Begins - 09:04 AM on Oct 09
- Dashami Tithi Ends - 11:43 AM on Oct 10
Tithi times are the same everywhere in India (IST); sunrise-based dates are for New Delhi.
Other years: 2026: Tuesday, 20 October
Holiday status
- Central Government offices
- Gazetted holiday: Central Government offices closed (DoPT list) (listed as "Dussehra (Vijaya Dashmi)"), Saka date Asvina 17.
- Banks (RBI)
- The RBI has not published its 2027 bank holiday list yet.
- Also known as
- Vijayadashami, Dasara (Karnataka), Bijoya Dashami (Bengal), Ayudha Puja the day before in the south.
Puja muhurat by city, Saturday, 9 October 2027
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Pradosh Kaal | Nishita Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 06:19 AM | 06:00 PM | 06:00 PM to 08:28 PM | 11:45 PM to 12:35 AM |
| Mumbai | 06:32 AM | 06:22 PM | 06:22 PM to 08:48 PM | 12:03 AM to 12:51 AM |
| Kolkata | 05:31 AM | 05:19 PM | 05:19 PM to 07:45 PM | 11:01 PM to 11:50 PM |
| Chennai | 06:00 AM | 05:55 PM | 05:55 PM to 08:20 PM | 11:33 PM to 12:22 AM |
| Bengaluru | 06:10 AM | 06:06 PM | 06:06 PM to 08:31 PM | 11:44 PM to 12:32 AM |
| Hyderabad | 06:09 AM | 06:00 PM | 06:00 PM to 08:26 PM | 11:40 PM to 12:29 AM |
| Ahmedabad | 06:35 AM | 06:22 PM | 06:22 PM to 08:48 PM | 12:04 AM to 12:53 AM |
| Pune | 06:28 AM | 06:18 PM | 06:18 PM to 08:44 PM | 11:59 PM to 12:47 AM |
| Jaipur | 06:24 AM | 06:07 PM | 06:07 PM to 08:34 PM | 11:51 PM to 12:40 AM |
| Lucknow | 06:03 AM | 05:46 PM | 05:46 PM to 08:14 PM | 11:30 PM to 12:20 AM |
| Patna | 05:46 AM | 05:30 PM | 05:30 PM to 07:57 PM | 11:14 PM to 12:03 AM |
| Bhopal | 06:16 AM | 06:02 PM | 06:02 PM to 08:29 PM | 11:45 PM to 12:33 AM |
| Guwahati | 05:20 AM | 05:03 PM | 05:03 PM to 07:31 PM | 10:47 PM to 11:36 PM |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 06:11 AM | 06:11 PM | 06:11 PM to 08:35 PM | 11:47 PM to 12:35 AM |
Pradosh Kaal: the first fifth of the night after sunset. Nishita Kaal: the eighth of the fifteen night muhurtas, around midnight. Check that the tithi is still running at the time you choose.
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is a major Hindu festival celebrated across India marking the triumph of righteousness over evil. It falls on the tenth day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin, occurring between late September and October following the nine-night Navratri festival.
Good to know
Dussehra is a Gazetted public holiday in India, meaning central and state government offices, banks, post offices, schools, and colleges are closed. Public transport operates on holiday schedules, and local roads around major Ramlila grounds or immersion sites may face diversions.
History
Dussehra draws its spiritual roots from two principal epic traditions in ancient India. In northern, western, and central regions, the festival celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana in Lanka, as narrated in the Ramayana, signifying the rescue of Sita and the restoration of moral order.
In eastern and southern states, Vijayadashami commemorates Goddess Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura after a fierce nine-night battle, establishing divine justice. Another popular legend from the Mahabharata connects the day to the Pandava brothers retrieving their hidden weapons from a sacred Shami tree at the conclusion of their one-year incognito exile.
How it is observed
Across northern India, community groups organize Ramlila theatrical enactments of the Ramayana, culminating in the evening burning of giant, firecracker-filled effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnada. In West Bengal and eastern regions, elaborate clay idols of Goddess Durga are carried in vibrant processions for immersion in rivers and lakes during Durga Visarjan. Southern states observe Ayudha Puja, clean and bless tools, machinery, and vehicles, while Mysuru hosts a grand ten-day royal festival featuring an illuminated palace and the famous Jumbo Savari elephant procession.
Facts
- UNESCO inscribed the traditional dramatic performance of Ramlila on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
- In the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami day itself and continues for seven days, bringing together over two hundred local village deities.
- Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh lasts for 75 days, making it one of the longest cultural festivals in the world, focused on the regional deity Goddess Danteshwari.
- The iconic Mysuru Palace in Karnataka is lit up with around 100,000 bulbs during the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
Questions about Dussehra
Why does the date of Dussehra change every year?
Dussehra is determined by the Hindu lunisolar calendar and falls on Ashvin Shukla Dashami. Because the lunar calendar year is roughly eleven days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar, the date shifts annually between late September and October.
What is the difference between Dussehra and Vijayadashami?
Both names refer to the same festival day. 'Dussehra' originates from Sanskrit words referring to the defeat of the ten-headed Ravana, whereas 'Vijayadashami' translates to 'the tenth day of victory', commonly linked to Goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura.
What is the significance of burning Ravana effigies?
Setting ablaze towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnada symbolizes the destruction of external evil as well as internal human vices such as ego, anger, pride, and greed.
What is Ayudha Puja?
Ayudha Puja is a custom observed mainly in southern and western India where people wash, decorate, and worship their work tools, vehicles, books, and machinery as a mark of gratitude for their livelihood.
Source: DoPT O.M. dated 03.07.2025 (2026) and 16.07.2026 (2027)