Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Nottingham is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Nottingham is 2:32 PM – 3:13 PM local time (BST, UTC+1), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall together on Monday 19 October 2026.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Nottingham timings on this page were calculated for the city's own sunrise and sunset using the Drik Panchang method, in local British Summer Time (the UK is still on summer time on 20 October; clocks go back on the following Sunday). India's Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October; the Nottingham equivalents are shown below. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because temples and community groups announce these themselves. Please check their official websites and social pages before you go.

Nottingham has a well-established Hindu community that has grown since the 1960s and 1970s. Gujarati families, including many who came from East Africa, Punjabi Hindus, Bengali families, Sri Lankan and South Indian Tamils, and a growing number of students and professionals at the city's two universities and hospitals all keep Navratri in their own way. Many families also visit Leicester's famous celebrations, but the city has its own temples, samaj halls and puja committees.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for Nottingham

ObservanceNottingham (local time, BST)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October 2026
Durga Ashtami and Maha NavamiMonday 19 October 2026
Dussehra / VijayadashamiTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi beginsTue 20 Oct, 8:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 9:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (calculated by the Drik Panchang method)2:32 PM – 3:13 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja window)1:50 PM – 3:54 PM
Sunset5:58 PM

In Nottingham the Dashami tithi begins on Tuesday morning and lasts through the whole afternoon, so the Aparahna and Dashami overlap fully and there is no ambiguity about the date: Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October. The Vijay Muhurat, the eleventh of the fifteen daytime muhurtas, sits comfortably within both the Aparahna and the Dashami tithi. Ravan Dahan, where held, traditionally takes place after sunset, which is at 5:58 PM in Nottingham on the day.

Hindu temples in Nottingham for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations are established in Nottingham and its suburbs. Programmes vary from year to year, so check each one's official website or social pages for current details.

  • Hindu Temple Cultural & Community Centre of Nottingham, Carlton Road (St Ann's): the city's long-standing community mandir, founded in the early 1970s and established to honour all three deities of the Hindu Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It holds religious, cultural and festival programmes through the year.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Forest Fields: the BAPS mandir for Nottingham, inaugurated in 2007, with murtis including Shri Ram-Sita-Hanumanji and Shri Radha-Krishna, serving a largely Gujarati congregation.
  • Sri Thurkkai Amman Temple, Beeston: a Tamil temple to the Goddess Durga (Thurkkai Amman), opened in 2012 in a converted church hall in Beeston Rylands, with daily poojas.
  • Sai Dham Nottingham, Basford: a temple and community centre dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba.
  • Gujarat Samaj Nottingham, Sneinton: a Gujarati community organisation based at a community centre near the city centre, running cultural, religious and social activities.
  • Nottingham Bengali Association: a Bengali Hindu charity whose aims include the public celebration of religious festivals in Nottinghamshire.

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages.

How Nottingham celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya nights

Nottingham's Gujarati families bring the energy of garba to temple halls, samaj centres and hired school or leisure-centre halls. Typical evenings begin with an aarti to Amba Mata in front of a decorated garbo, followed by hours of circular garba and dandiya raas with live musicians or a DJ, with families dressed in chaniya choli and kediyu. Because most of the nine nights fall on school and work days, the busiest events are usually on the two Navratri weekends.

Durga Puja

For Bengali families, Navratri means Durga Puja. A typical puja includes the beat of the dhak, pushpanjali on Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, bhog shared by everyone, cultural programmes by children and adults and, at the end, Bijoya Dashami with Sindoor Khela and a farewell to the Goddess. In India the Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami falls on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata), but diaspora pujas follow their own committee's schedule, often fitted around weekends.

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Tamil Navaratri, Golu and Ayudha Puja

Nottingham's Tamil community, including many families of Sri Lankan heritage, keeps Navaratri as a festival of the Goddess in her three forms: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, three nights each. Many homes set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu) of dolls on stepped shelves and invite friends for kumkum, songs and sundal. On Navami, Ayudha Puja honours tools, books, instruments and vehicles, and on Vijayadashami many children begin learning with Vidyarambham, writing their first letters in rice. Telugu families may also gather for Bathukamma with stacked flower arrangements and circle songs.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian and Punjabi Hindu families mark Dussehra as the day of Rama's victory over Ravana. In Nottingham this usually means Ramayana readings, bhajans, children's Ramlila plays and, where permission is granted, a small effigy burning organised by a temple or community group. Large open-air Ravan Dahan events are far less common than in India, and anything involving fire or fireworks depends on the rules of the local council and fire service.

Dussehra puja at home

Because 20 October is a working Tuesday, many Nottingham families keep a short home puja and join community celebrations at the weekend. A simple vidhi:

  • Prepare: clean the puja area, place an image of Durga, Rama or your family deity, and keep flowers, rice, kumkum, a diya and incense ready.
  • Aparajita puja: in the Aparahna (1:50 PM – 3:54 PM), draw a small eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice and worship Goddess Aparajita, praying for victory over obstacles.
  • Shami puja: offer worship to a Shami plant or a few Shami or Apta leaves, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat (2:32 PM – 3:13 PM). Exchanging leaves as 'gold' with friends is a Maharashtrian and Karnataka custom.
  • Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, laptops, books, musical instruments and the car, apply kumkum and offer a flower.
  • Vidyarambham: children can write their first letters or 'Om' in rice, or begin a new class or instrument.
  • Close: light the diya, offer naivedya and sing an aarti. If you kept the Navratri fast, break it as per your family custom.

For the meaning of Dussehra, the stories behind it and a fuller puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Nottingham

  • Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are school and work days. Plan a quick puja in the lunch hour or arrange a short break during the Vijay Muhurat.
  • Weekend events: many garba nights, Durga Pujas and Ramlila programmes are held on the weekends either side of Dussehra. Check dates directly with the organisers.
  • Fire and fireworks: rules on fireworks, open flames and effigy burning are set by UK law, Nottingham City Council and neighbouring councils such as Broxtowe. Check before planning anything at home or in a public space.
  • Getting there: temple car parks and nearby streets fill quickly on festival evenings. Car-share, arrive early, and use the city's buses or the NET tram where they serve your destination.
  • Weather: late October evenings in the East Midlands are cool and often wet. Bring layers and an umbrella for outdoor events.
  • Clock check: the UK is still on British Summer Time on 20 October, so the times on this page are BST.

Share the Vijayadashami 2026 blessing

On Vijayadashami, Hindus in Nottingham, from St Ann's to Beeston, join devotees everywhere in celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma and of light over darkness. As commonly told, Maa Durga triumphed over Mahishasura and Lord Rama over Ravana on this blessed day. Sharing a blessing is a simple way to carry that victory into every home. Pick a message below and send it to your parents, family and friends, so their Dussehra begins with love, courage and grace.

Shami shloka for Vijayadashami

शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥

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Shami shamayate papam shami shatru-vinashini, arjunasya dhanurdhari ramasya priyadarshini.

Meaning: The Shami tree takes away sin and destroys enemies; it held Arjuna's bow and is dear to Lord Rama. Many families recite this while offering Shami (Jammi) leaves on Vijayadashami.

Rama mantra to chant on Dussehra

रामाय रामभद्राय रामचन्द्राय वेधसे। रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः॥

Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya vedhase, raghunathaya nathaya sitayah pataye namah.

Meaning: Salutations to Rama, to Ramabhadra, to Ramachandra the creator, to the lord of the Raghu clan, to the husband of Sita.

Vijayadashami 2026 messages to share

Happy Dussehra to our dear family! 🪔 May Vijayadashami fill our home with light, our hearts with faith and our days with togetherness and peace. Share on WhatsApp

Dear Maa and Papa, sending Dussehra love and pranams from all of us in Nottingham. 🙏 May Maa Durga bless you with good health, calm days and endless joy. Share on WhatsApp

Happy Vijayadashami, dear friend! 🌼 May this Dussehra chase away every shadow and bring you courage, laughter and bright new beginnings. Share on WhatsApp

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Wishing you and your family a blessed Dussehra. May this Vijayadashami bring focus to your work, kindness to every meeting and success that comes through honest effort. Share on WhatsApp

Jai Maa Durga! 🔱 May the Mother who conquered Mahishasura give you the courage to rise above every fear. Happy Vijayadashami from our Nottingham home to yours. Share on WhatsApp

Jai Shri Ram! 🏹 May Lord Rama's path of truth and dharma light up your life, and may goodness win in every step you take this Dussehra. Share on WhatsApp

A short Vijayadashami prayer

Maa Durga, Lord Rama, on this sacred Vijayadashami I come to you with folded hands. Give me strength when I feel weak, courage when I am afraid, and wisdom when the way is unclear. Keep my family safe from anger, envy and negativity, and let our home be filled with patience, love and faith. Help me walk the path of dharma every day.

Use the share buttons on this page to send these blessings to your family and friends.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Nottingham?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Nottingham is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 8:20 AM on Tuesday and ends at 9:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, local time (BST).

What is the Vijay Muhurat for Dussehra 2026 in Nottingham?

The Vijay Muhurat in Nottingham is 2:32 PM to 3:13 PM BST on Tuesday 20 October, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. The Aparahna runs from 1:50 PM to 3:54 PM, and sunset is at 5:58 PM.

Which Nottingham temples celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

Places to check include the Hindu Temple Cultural & Community Centre on Carlton Road, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Forest Fields, Sri Thurkkai Amman Temple in Beeston, Sai Dham in Basford, Gujarat Samaj Nottingham in Sneinton and the Nottingham Bengali Association. Programmes vary, so check their official pages.

Where can I find garba and Durga Puja in Nottingham?

Garba and dandiya nights are held in temple halls, samaj centres and hired school or leisure-centre halls, with the busiest events on the Navratri weekends. Bengali families keep Durga Puja through local committees, which announce their own schedules.

How can I do a simple Dussehra puja at home in Nottingham?

Worship Goddess Aparajita in the Aparahna (1:50 PM – 3:54 PM) and offer Shami or Apta leaves during the Vijay Muhurat (2:32 PM – 3:13 PM). Bless tools and books with Ayudha puja, let children begin learning with Vidyarambham, and close with a diya and aarti.

Is Ravan Dahan held in Nottingham?

Large open-air Ravan Dahan events are uncommon in Nottingham. Temples and community groups may hold Ramayana readings, bhajans, children's Ramlila and, where permission is granted, a small effigy burning after sunset at 5:58 PM.