Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Columbus, Ohio is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat is 3:06 PM – 3:50 PM local time (EDT, UTC-4), calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Columbus. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and in Columbus the Dashami tithi covers the whole of Tuesday afternoon.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): All Columbus clock times on this page were calculated for Columbus's own sunrise, sunset and time zone (America/New_York, still on daylight saving time on 20 October), using the Drik Panchang method for the Vijay Muhurat and the Dashami tithi. India-wide dates are from Drik Panchang for India. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because temples and community groups announce these themselves each year.

Central Ohio has one of the Midwest's fastest-growing Hindu communities. Families from Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, the Hindi-speaking states, Nepal and Bhutan have made homes in Dublin, Powell, Hilliard, Westerville, Lewis Center and across Columbus itself, and Navratri is one of the busiest seasons of their year. From garba nights to Durga Puja and Ravan Dahan, Dussehra in Columbus blends traditions from across India.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and Vijay Muhurat for Columbus

ObservanceColumbus, Ohio (local time)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October 2026
Durga Ashtami and Maha NavamiMonday 19 October 2026 (both on the same day in India's calendar)
Dussehra / VijayadashamiTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi beginsTue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat3:06 PM – 3:50 PM (calculated by the Drik Panchang method)
Aparahna (afternoon puja period)2:22 PM – 4:33 PM
Sunset (Ravan Dahan traditionally after this)6:45 PM

In India the Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October. Those Indian clock times are not the same as Columbus times, so do not convert them; the table above already gives the tithi in Columbus local time. Because Dashami begins early on Tuesday morning in Columbus and lasts until the early hours of Wednesday, the whole afternoon Aparahna and the Vijay Muhurat fall inside Dashami. Tuesday 20 October is therefore clearly Vijayadashami for Columbus.

Ohio is still on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4) on 20 October 2026; clocks go back in early November, after Dussehra.

Hindu temples in Columbus for Navratri & Dussehra

These Central Ohio temples and organisations are well established and usually mark Navratri and Vijayadashami in some form. Each has its own traditions, so check their websites or social pages for this year's plans.

  • Bharatiya Hindu Temple (Powell, Delaware County): the largest Hindu temple in the Columbus area, honouring many deities under one roof and a long-time centre for Central Ohio's festivals.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (East Broad Street, East Columbus): a traditional Swaminarayan mandir with an active community calendar.
  • ISKCON Krishna House (near Ohio State University, Columbus): founded in 1969 and often described as Ohio's oldest Hindu temple, popular with students.
  • Sri Venkateswara Temple of Central Ohio (Powell–Galena area, north of Columbus): a South Indian temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara.
  • Chinmaya Mission Columbus (Chinmaya Archana) (Columbus area): known for Bala Vihar classes, scripture study and festival celebrations.
  • Prayas, the Progressive Bengali Association of Greater Columbus (Dublin): a Bengali cultural organisation that celebrates the major festivals of Bengal.

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 Columbus celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya nights

Central Ohio's Gujarati families keep Navratri alive with garba and dandiya raas. Typically, a garba night begins with aarti to Amba Mata, followed by circles of dancers moving around a decorated garbo or image of the Goddess, with dandiya sticks coming out later in the evening. Because the nine nights fall on weekdays as well as weekends, community groups and temples often hold their largest garba on Friday and Saturday nights, sometimes in hired halls or school gyms.

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Durga Puja

Bengali families in Columbus celebrate Durga Puja with an image of Ma Durga, the sound of the dhak, anjali offerings, bhog and cultural evenings of music, dance and drama. Diaspora pujas commonly compress the rituals of Saptami, Ashtami and Navami into a weekend. The festival closes with Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela, which in India fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Kolkata); in Columbus each puja committee sets its own schedule.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families remember the victory of Rama over Ravana, and some temples and community groups stage short Ramayana skits by children or hold a symbolic Ravan Dahan. Where an effigy is burnt, it is usually small and done under the rules set by local authorities. Many families simply gather for aarti, bhajans and a shared meal on the evening of Dussehra or the nearest weekend.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Tamil, Telugu and Kannada families in Dublin, Powell and Hilliard set up Golu (Bommai Kolu) displays of dolls on stepped shelves and visit each other's homes during the nine nights. Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks, songs and circle dances, often as a community gathering. On Navami, many South Indian households perform Ayudha Puja for tools, books, instruments and vehicles, and on Vijayadashami children begin learning with Vidyarambham.

Dussehra puja at home in Columbus

Dussehra falls on a Tuesday, a working and school day, so many Columbus families keep a short home puja in the afternoon or evening. The best window is the Vijay Muhurat, 3:06 PM – 3:50 PM, and failing that any time within the Aparahna, 2:22 PM – 4:33 PM.

  • Shami puja: worship the Shami tree, or a Shami leaf or sapling if you have one, and exchange leaves (in Maharashtrian and Kannada homes, apta leaves as 'gold') with family and friends.
  • Aparajita puja: draw a simple eight-petalled lotus with rice or kumkum, place a lamp, and pray to Devi Aparajita, the undefeated Goddess, for victory over obstacles.
  • Ayudha and Shastra puja: clean and worship tools, vehicles, laptops, musical instruments and books, applying kumkum and offering flowers.
  • Vidyarambham: young children write their first letters, often 'Om' or the alphabet, in a plate of rice with a parent or elder.
  • Simple vidhi: light a lamp, offer flowers, fruit and sweets, recite the Durga or Rama stotra you know, do aarti, then share prasad. Start something new, whether study, work or a purchase, during the Vijay Muhurat if you can.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Columbus

  • Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October are ordinary work and school days in Ohio. Plan home puja around the Vijay Muhurat, and expect community programmes on the nearest weekend.
  • Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open burning are set by local authorities and vary between Columbus and suburbs such as Dublin, Powell and Hilliard. Check your city's rules, and leave effigy burning to organisers who have the permits.
  • Parking: temple parking fills quickly on festival weekends. Arrive early, car-pool where possible and follow volunteers' directions.
  • Weather: October evenings in Central Ohio can be cool, so bring a layer for outdoor aarti or Ravan Dahan.
  • Times: all Columbus times on this page are Eastern Daylight Time. Do not use India's muhurat times here.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Columbus?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) in Columbus, Ohio is on Tuesday 20 October 2026, the same day as in India. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October 2026.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Columbus on Dussehra 2026?

3:06 PM – 3:50 PM local time (Eastern Daylight Time) on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Columbus. The wider Aparahna period runs 2:22 PM – 4:33 PM.

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When does Dashami tithi begin and end in Columbus?

In Columbus local time, Dashami tithi begins Tue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM and ends Wed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM. The whole Vijay Muhurat and Aparahna fall inside Dashami, so there is no doubt about the date.

Can I use India's Dussehra muhurat times in Columbus?

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

Where can I celebrate Navratri and Dussehra in Columbus?

Central Ohio temples such as the Bharatiya Hindu Temple in Powell, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on the East Side, ISKCON Krishna House near Ohio State and the Sri Venkateswara Temple of Central Ohio usually hold Navratri and Vijayadashami programmes. Temples and community groups announce garba, Durga Puja and Ravan Dahan plans a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela?

In India, Bengali-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Pujas in Columbus follow their own committee's schedule, which is often set around the weekend.