Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 in Australia: Dates, Telangana Association Celebrations, Muhurat and City-by-City Guide

Quick answer: Bathukamma 2026 in Australia begins with Engili Pula Bathukamma on Saturday 10 October. Saddula Bathukamma falls on Sunday 18 October in Telangana's calendar, while Drik Panchang's Sydney calendar lists Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October. Dasara (Vijayadashami) is Wednesday 21 October in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin, and Tuesday 20 October in Perth. The Vijay Muhurat is 2:51–3:43pm in Sydney and 3:18–4:11pm in Melbourne. Watch for 2026 celebration dates from the Australian Telangana State Association, the Australian Telangana Forum, the Melbourne Telangana Forum and the Telangana Association of Queensland.

Bathukamma 2026 in Australia arrives in the middle of spring, when gardens and markets are full of flowers. Telangana families have celebrated the festival in Sydney since at least 2006, and today associations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane hold Bathukamma celebrations, with women in silk sarees circling their flower towers to Telangana folk songs.

This guide covers Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 across Australia, city by city. You'll find the nine days of Bathukamma on Australian time, why Saddula Bathukamma and Dasara can shift by a day here, Vijay Muhurat timings for 20 places, the associations to follow and tips for making Bathukamma with Australian spring flowers. For Navratri and Dussehra events in every city, see our Dussehra 2026 Australia guide.

Editor's note: Details were checked against association websites, news reports and Drik Panchang on 17 September 2026. Most associations announce their Bathukamma dates a few weeks ahead, and we will update this page as they do.

Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 in Australia at a glance

• Engili Pula Bathukamma: Saturday 10 October 2026 (Mahalaya Amavasya), across Australia.
• Saddula Bathukamma: Sunday 18 October in Telangana's calendar; Drik Panchang's Sydney calendar lists Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October.
• Dasara (Vijayadashami): Wednesday 21 October in the eastern states, South Australia and the Northern Territory, and Tuesday 20 October in Western Australia.
• Vijay Muhurat: 2:51 to 3:43pm in Sydney and 3:18 to 4:11pm in Melbourne on 21 October.
• Weekends: Community celebrations are likely to fall on the weekends of 10–11 and 17–18 October.
• Time zones: Daylight saving began on 4 October in NSW, Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania and South Australia. Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia don't change their clocks.
• Dussehra events: Melbourne's free Dussehra Mela is on Saturday 24 October at Epping Soccer Stadium.

Bathukamma 2026 dates: the nine days on Australian time

Bathukamma runs from Mahalaya Amavasya to Durgashtami. In 2026, Mahalaya Amavasya is running at sunrise on Saturday 10 October everywhere in Australia, so the festival starts on the same day as in Telangana.

Is Saddula Bathukamma on 18 or 19 October in Australia?

Telangana's official calendar places Saddula Bathukamma on Sunday 18 October, and many families in Australia follow it. On Australian clocks, however, the Ashtami tithi begins on the afternoon of 18 October (1:57pm in Sydney) and is still running at sunrise on Monday 19 October, so Drik Panchang's Sydney calendar lists Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October. If you follow a local panchang or priest, confirm which day you will mark Saddula Bathukamma. Community celebrations are usually held on the nearest weekend either way.

Navratri and Dasara 2026 dates in Australia

These dates follow Drik Panchang's 2026 Sydney calendars and apply to eastern Australia.

• Why Dasara is a day later in the east: The Dashami tithi begins at 6:20pm AEDT on Tuesday 20 October, after that afternoon's puja window, so the first full Dashami afternoon is Wednesday 21 October.
• Perth: Dashami begins at 3:20pm AWST on Tuesday 20 October, and Drik Panchang's Perth calendar keeps Dasara on 20 October, with Maha Navami on Monday 19 October.
• Telugu calendars from India: These list Maharnavami and Ayudha Puja on Monday 19 October and Vijaya Dasami on Tuesday 20 October, so some families mark the festival on India's dates. Follow your family or temple tradition.

Dasara 2026 Vijay Muhurat in Australian cities

The Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 muhurtas of daylight, and Aparahna is the wider afternoon window used for Jammi (Shami) puja, Aparajita Puja and new beginnings.

Don't convert India's times. India's Vijay Muhurat is 1:59–2:45pm IST on 20 October, which reads 7:29–8:15pm in Sydney, after dark. That converted window isn't an Australian muhurat.

• Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra timings are from Drik Panchang.
• Perth's special case: Dashami begins at 3:20pm on Tuesday 20 October, after the calculated Vijay Muhurat of 2:12 to 3:04pm. Many families use the part of Aparahna after Dashami begins, from 3:20 to 3:56pm, or follow their temple's timing.
• Your suburb: Use a panchang set to your location or check today's panchangam.

Telangana associations to follow for Bathukamma 2026

No Australian association had announced its 2026 Bathukamma date by mid-September. These groups hold celebrations every year.

Dussehra 2026 events near Telugu communities

† Listed on India.com.au. Confirm details with the organiser before you go.

Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 city by city

Jump to a city: Sydney · Melbourne · Brisbane · Perth · Adelaide · Canberra · Gold Coast · Hobart · Darwin · Regional Australia

Sydney

• Bathukamma: Sydney has one of Australia's longest-running Telangana celebrations. The Australian Telangana State Association held its first Bathukamma in 2006, and the Australian Telangana Forum has been active since 2016.
• Temples and Dussehra: Sri Venkateswara Temple in Helensburgh draws families for Navaratri and Vijayadashami, and the free VMS Durga Puja is on Saturday 24 October at St Marys Memorial Hall.
• Shopping: Harris Park, Sydney's "Little India," is the go-to strip for sarees, sweets and puja items.
• Muhurat: The Vijay Muhurat on Dasara, Wednesday 21 October, is 2:51 to 3:43pm.

Melbourne

• Bathukamma: The Melbourne Telangana Forum holds an annual Bathukamma, with flower stacks made from locally sourced blooms.
• Dussehra: Melbourne's free Dussehra Mela, with Ramlila and Ravan Dahan, is on Saturday 24 October at Epping Soccer Stadium, and Sri Durga Temple's annual Dussehra has drawn some of Australia's biggest crowds.
• Muhurat: The Vijay Muhurat on Wednesday 21 October is 3:18 to 4:11pm.

Brisbane

The Telangana Association of Queensland held a large Bathukamma in Brisbane in 2025, drawing Telangana families and other Indian expatriates. Queensland stays on AEST all year, and the Vijay Muhurat in Brisbane on Wednesday 21 October is 1:42 to 2:33pm.

Perth

Perth's Telugu families celebrate with community gatherings, and Western Australia marks Dasara on Tuesday 20 October, a day earlier than the east. Perth is on AWST (UTC+8), and the Aparahna window on 20 October is 1:20 to 3:56pm, with Dashami from 3:20pm.

Adelaide

Adelaide's Telugu families celebrate Bathukamma with community gatherings. South Australia is on ACDT in October, and the Vijay Muhurat on Wednesday 21 October is 3:12 to 4:05pm.

Canberra

Canberra's Telugu families celebrate locally or travel to Sydney events. The Vijay Muhurat on Wednesday 21 October is 3:00 to 3:53pm.

Gold Coast

Families on the Gold Coast often join Brisbane's celebrations. The Vijay Muhurat on Wednesday 21 October is 1:40 to 2:32pm.

Hobart

Tasmania's small Telugu community celebrates with home gatherings. The Vijay Muhurat in Hobart on Wednesday 21 October is 3:11 to 4:05pm.

Darwin

The Northern Territory stays on ACST all year. Darwin's families celebrate at home or with small gatherings, and the Vijay Muhurat on Wednesday 21 October is 2:36 to 3:26pm.

Regional Australia

Families in Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Toowoomba, Townsville and Cairns celebrate at home or travel to the nearest capital. The Vijay Muhurat on Wednesday 21 October is 2:49 to 3:41pm in Newcastle, 3:20 to 4:14pm in Geelong and 2:04 to 2:54pm in Townsville.

How to celebrate Bathukamma in Australia

• Use spring flowers. October is spring in Australia, so marigolds, celosia, daisies, gerberas and other seasonal blooms are easy to find at markets and nurseries. Traditional Telangana flowers such as tangedu and gunugu are harder to source.
• Build the stack. Arrange the flowers in concentric layers on a plate, shaped like a temple gopuram, and place Gauramma, a small turmeric idol of Goddess Gauri, on top.
• Play Bathukamma. Women place their Bathukammas in the centre and circle them, clapping and singing songs such as "Bathukamma Bathukamma Uyyalo."
• Follow venue rules for immersion. Don't put flowers or idols into rivers, lakes, the ocean or council ponds without permission. Follow your organiser's arrangements for the immersion.
• Check the weather. Spring weather can change quickly, so bring a cover for your Bathukamma if your celebration is outdoors.
• Share the saddulu. On Saddula Bathukamma, families prepare five kinds of rice and share them with friends.

Dasara traditions for Telugu families in Australia

• Jammi aaku exchange: On Vijayadashami, families worship the Jammi (Shami) tree and exchange its leaves as a symbol of gold.
• Alai Balai: In Telangana, friends and neighbours embrace after exchanging Jammi leaves.
• Ayudha Puja: Cars, tools and laptops are cleaned and worshipped during Navratri.
• Aksharabhyasam: Young children begin their learning on Vijayadashami.
• Bommala Koluvu: Many Andhra families arrange tiered doll displays through Navratri.

Your Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 planner for Australia

Frequently asked questions

When is Bathukamma 2026 in Australia?

Bathukamma 2026 begins with Engili Pula Bathukamma on Saturday 10 October across Australia. Saddula Bathukamma falls on Sunday 18 October in Telangana's calendar, while Drik Panchang's Sydney calendar lists Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October.

Why might Saddula Bathukamma be on 19 October in Australia?

On Australian clocks, the Ashtami tithi begins on the afternoon of 18 October and is still running at sunrise on 19 October, so local panchangs such as Drik Panchang's Sydney calendar list Durga Ashtami on Monday 19 October.

When is Dasara 2026 in Australia?

Dasara (Vijayadashami) falls on Wednesday 21 October 2026 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin, and on Tuesday 20 October in Perth.

What is the Vijay Muhurat for Dasara 2026 in Sydney and Melbourne?

On Wednesday 21 October 2026, the Vijay Muhurat is 2:51 to 3:43pm in Sydney and 3:18 to 4:11pm in Melbourne, according to Drik Panchang.

Where can I celebrate Bathukamma in Sydney?

The Australian Telangana State Association, which has celebrated Bathukamma in Sydney since 2006, and the Australian Telangana Forum both hold annual celebrations. Watch their websites and social media for 2026 dates.

Is there a Bathukamma celebration in Melbourne?

Yes. The Melbourne Telangana Forum holds an annual Bathukamma, with women making flower stacks from locally sourced blooms.

Is there a Bathukamma celebration in Brisbane?

Yes. The Telangana Association of Queensland held a large Bathukamma in Brisbane in 2025, attended by Telangana families and other Indian expatriates.

Can I use India's Dasara muhurat in Australia?

No. India's Vijay Muhurat converts to the evening in eastern Australia, after dark, but the muhurat depends on local sunrise and sunset. In Sydney it is 2:51 to 3:43pm on Wednesday 21 October.

What flowers can I use for Bathukamma in Australia?

October is spring in Australia, so marigolds, celosia, daisies, gerberas and other seasonal flowers are easy to find at markets and nurseries.

Can I immerse my Bathukamma in a river or the ocean in Australia?

Don't put flowers or idols into rivers, lakes, the ocean or council ponds without permission. Follow your event organiser's arrangements for the immersion.

Is Dasara a public holiday in Australia?

No. Dasara is not a public holiday in Australia, so plan leave in advance if you want to attend a weekday puja on 20 or 21 October.

Related reading on HinduTone

• Dussehra 2026 in Australia: city-by-city guide
• Bathukamma and Dasara 2026 in Dubai and the UAE
• Bathukamma 2026 in the UK
• Dussehra and Bathukamma 2026 in the USA
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Today's panchangam

Sources and verification

• Associations: Australian Telangana State Association, Australian Telangana Forum, Melbourne Telangana Forum and Deccan Chronicle on the Telangana Association of Queensland's Brisbane celebration.
• Events: India.com.au listings for Melbourne's Dussehra Mela and Sydney's VMS Durga Puja.
• Dates and timings: Drik Panchang's 2026 Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth calendars and Vijayadashami pages; Wego citing Telangana's state calendar; 99Pandit on the nine days; and ShubhDivas for India's timings. Other city timings were calculated by HinduTone with the same sunrise-to-sunset method and cross-checked against Drik Panchang's published windows.
• Last verified: 17 September 2026. Event details can change, so confirm with organisers before you go.