Dussehra 2026 in Baltimore, MD: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Temples and Navratri Celebrations

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Baltimore is 2:40 PM – 3:24 PM local time (Eastern Daylight Time), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and the Dashami tithi runs in Baltimore from 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October to 4:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): Local timings on this page were calculated for Baltimore (America/New_York, UTC-0400 on 20 October) from the Dashami tithi published by Drik Panchang, which runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October in India. The Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Baltimore's own sunrise and sunset. We do not list 2026 event schedules, because temples and community groups announce these themselves.

The Baltimore region, from the city itself out to Baltimore County, Howard County and the suburbs along the I-95 corridor, has a well-established and growing Hindu community. Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi and North Indian families, many of them connected with the area's universities, hospitals and federal employers, mark Navratri with garba nights, Durga Puja, temple pujas and home rituals. Dussehra closes those nine nights by celebrating Rama's victory over Ravana and the Goddess's victory over Mahishasura.

Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for Baltimore

All times are Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-0400). The United States is still on daylight saving time on 20 October, so these clock times already include it. Because the Dashami tithi begins before dawn in Baltimore and covers the full Aparahna, there is no doubt about the date: Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October, and the Vijay Muhurat falls comfortably inside Dashami. In India, Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October 2026, with Ashtami and Navami sharing Monday 19 October.

Hindu temples in Baltimore for Navratri & Dussehra

These are some of the mandirs and community organisations serving Hindu families in and around Baltimore, including two larger temples elsewhere in Maryland that many local families visit at festival time:

• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Baltimore – Nottingham (Baltimore County). A traditional mandir of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, with a new building inaugurated in 2025, popular with Gujarati families.
• ISKCON of Baltimore – Catonsville. One of ISKCON's oldest centres in North America, with a Vedic-style temple, kirtan and Sunday feasts.
• Gujarati Samaj of Baltimore – Baltimore area. A community organisation that hosts Navratri garba for the region's Gujarati community.
• Sri Siva Vishnu Temple – Lanham (Prince George's County). A large South Indian-style temple that celebrates Sarada Navaratri over nine nights and Vijaya Dasami on the tenth day.
• Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple – Ijamsville (Frederick County). A Hanuman temple on a large rural campus, popular with Telugu and Tamil families from across Maryland.

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. Typical programmes include daily Devi abhishekam and aarti during Navratri, Lalitha Sahasranama or Durga Saptashati chanting, garba and dandiya nights, Golu displays, Saraswati puja, Ayudha puja and, on Vijayadashami, Vidyarambham for young children and a special evening aarti.

How Baltimore celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

Garba is the most visible part of Navratri in the Baltimore area. Through the nine nights, and especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, community halls, school gyms, sports complexes and temple halls fill with families in chaniya choli and kediyu dancing garba and dandiya raas around a decorated image of Amba Mata. Larger events are often ticketed and can sell out, so watch for announcements from community groups well in advance.

Durga Puja

Maryland's Bengali community has celebrated Durga Puja for decades, with pujas featuring the idol of Durga with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, the beat of the dhak, anjali, cultural programmes and bhog. Baltimore families often join pujas held in the wider Baltimore–Washington region. In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 according to Drik Panchang for Kolkata, but diaspora Durga Pujas follow their own committee's schedule, which is often arranged around a weekend.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families mark Dussehra with stories of the Ramayana, and some temples and community groups in Maryland stage Ramlila scenes, children's plays or a Ravan Dahan. Burning effigies and setting off fireworks need permission from local authorities, so these events vary from year to year and often use smaller effigies or symbolic displays.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Tamil and Telugu families in the region set up Golu (Bommai Kolu) displays of dolls on stepped shelves and invite friends for haldi-kumkum and sundal. Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with floral stacks and songs, and many South Indian households observe Saraswati puja and Ayudha puja at the end of Navratri, placing books, instruments, tools and laptops before the Goddess.

Dussehra puja at home

On Tuesday 20 October, try to perform the Vijayadashami rituals during the Vijay Muhurat, 2:40 PM – 3:24 PM, or at least within the Aparahna, 1:56 PM – 4:08 PM. A simple home vidhi:

• Aparajita puja: draw an eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice flour, invoke Goddess Aparajita in the centre, and offer flowers, akshata, a lamp and naivedya.
• Shami puja: worship a Shami plant if you have one, or Shami leaves (some families use apta leaves), and exchange the leaves as 'gold' with family and friends.
• Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, vehicles, books, musical instruments and laptops, apply tilak and offer a flower to each.
• Vidyarambham: in South Indian homes, children write their first letters, often 'Om' or 'Hari Sri', in a tray of rice with the help of an elder or teacher.
• Close the Navratri kalash: if you set up Ghatasthapana on 11 October, do the final aarti, immerse the sprouted jowar or barley respectfully and distribute prasad.

For the full puja procedure, mantras and the stories behind the festival, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Baltimore

• It's a weekday: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are working and school days. Many temples and community groups hold their main celebrations on the nearest weekend, and the Vijay Muhurat falls during work hours, so plan a short break or a quick puja at home.
• Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and effigy burning are set by the state, Baltimore City and the counties, so check your local rules before planning anything at home.
• Parking and traffic: parking at popular temples and garba venues fills up quickly on festival weekends, and the Beltway and I-95 can be slow on Friday evenings. Arrive early or carpool, especially for the longer drives to Lanham or Ijamsville.
• Weather: late-October evenings in Maryland can be cool, so bring a layer for outdoor programmes.
• Temple etiquette: dress modestly, remove footwear where asked and follow each temple's guidance on photography.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Baltimore?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October in Baltimore (Eastern Daylight Time) and covers the whole afternoon, so Vijayadashami is observed on the 20th, the same day as in India.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Baltimore on Dussehra 2026?

2:40 PM – 3:24 PM local time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Baltimore. The wider Aparahna period is 1:56 PM – 4:08 PM. This is the traditional time for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and starting new work.

Can I convert India's Dussehra muhurat into Baltimore time?

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's times cannot simply be converted into Eastern time. Use the Baltimore times on this page or your temple's calendar.

Which temples near Baltimore celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Nottingham and ISKCON of Baltimore in Catonsville are in the Baltimore area, and many families also travel to Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham or Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple in Ijamsville. Gujarati Samaj of Baltimore organises community garba. Check each organisation's website for its 2026 programme.

When is Durga Puja and Sindoor Khela for Baltimore's Bengali community?

In India, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 according to Drik Panchang for Kolkata. Diaspora Durga Pujas in Maryland follow their own committee's schedule, often on a weekend, so check their announcements.

Is there Ravan Dahan in Baltimore?

Some temples and community groups in Maryland hold Ramlila scenes or a Ravan Dahan, usually on a weekend near Dussehra. Rules on fireworks and burning effigies are set by local authorities, so any such event depends on permits. Check the organisers' websites or social pages for 2026 plans.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 USA, state by state
• Navratri 2026 in the USA, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in Washington DC
• Dussehra 2026 in Philadelphia
• Dussehra 2026 in Richmond
• Dussehra 2026 in Edison
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families