Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Dallas is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat in Dallas is 3:04 PM – 3:48 PM Central Daylight Time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method, inside the Aparahna period of 2:19 PM – 4:33 PM. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Dashami tithi runs from 2:20 AM on 20 October to 3:41 AM on 21 October, local time.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Dallas dates and times on this page were calculated for Dallas's own sunrise, sunset and time zone (America/Chicago, UTC-0500 on 20 October, as Texas is still on daylight saving time) using the Drik Panchang method, following the same rules Drik Panchang uses for India and North America. India's times have not been converted into Dallas time. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or tickets, because temples and community groups announce these themselves; please check their official websites and social pages.

The Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex is home to one of the fastest-growing Indian-American communities in the country. Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Hindi-speaking, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Malayali and Nepali families have settled across Irving, Plano, Frisco, Allen, Richardson, Coppell and beyond, and each brings its own way of marking the nine nights of Navratri and the victory of Vijayadashami.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for Dallas

ObservanceDallas (2026)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October
Durga Ashtami and Maha NavamiMonday 19 October (India dates; follow your temple's calendar)
Dussehra / VijayadashamiTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi beginsTue 20 Oct, 2:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 3:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)3:04 PM – 3:48 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja period)2:19 PM – 4:33 PM
Sunset6:48 PM

All Dallas times are Central Daylight Time (UTC-0500). For reference, in India Vijayadashami is also on Tuesday 20 October 2026, with Dashami tithi from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October. Because Dashami is already running well before the Dallas afternoon begins, the Vijay Muhurat falls fully within the tithi, and the whole Aparahna is suitable for Shami, Aparajita and Vijay puja.

Hindu temples in Dallas for Navratri & Dussehra

These Dallas–Fort Worth temples and organisations are well established and regularly mark Navratri, Durga Puja or Dussehra. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages.

  • DFW Hindu Temple – Ekta Mandir (Irving): one of the largest and longest-serving temples in the Metroplex, with shrines to many deities under one roof and a busy festival calendar for families from Irving, Coppell, Arlington and Dallas.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Irving): a large mandir and cultural centre that is a focal point for the Gujarati community and its Navratri and festival celebrations.
  • Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (Allen): a temple built to Shilpa Shastra guidelines in Collin County, which has held Navratri garba and Dussehra programmes, including Ravan Dahan, in past years.
  • Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple (Frisco): the large South Indian-style Hanuman temple with its towering Raja Gopuram, popular with Telugu, Kannada and Tamil families.
  • Bengali Association of Dallas Fort Worth (Richardson): one of the oldest Bengali organisations in the region, known for its Durga Puja.
  • Bengali Association of Greater Dallas (Antorik): a community organisation whose Antorik Durga Puja has drawn large gatherings of Bengali families for many years.

Many other mandirs and associations across the Metroplex hold their own Navratri events. Always check the temple's own website before you visit.

How Dallas celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For many DFW families, Navratri means garba. Gujarati associations and temples typically book halls, school gyms or event centres for evenings of garba and dandiya raas, with live or recorded music, colourful chaniya cholis and kediyus, and an aarti to the Goddess. Larger events tend to be on Friday and Saturday nights.

Durga Puja

The Metroplex's Bengali community has celebrated Durga Puja for decades. A typical puja includes the clay idol of Durga with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, the beat of the dhak, morning anjali, bhog, cultural programmes and food stalls. It closes with Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela; in India these fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 according to Drik Panchang for Kolkata, but diaspora Durga Pujas follow their committee, and many hold the main days over a weekend.

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Ram Leela and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families in Dallas keep the Ramayana tradition alive through community stage productions that retell the story of Rama, from his exile to his victory over Ravana. Where an effigy of Ravana is burnt, it is done at an open venue after dark, with permission from local authorities and with safety arrangements in place.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

With its large Telugu and Tamil population, the Metroplex sees plenty of South Indian Navaratri traditions. Tamil and Telugu households set up Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bommala Koluvu), steps of dolls showing gods, saints and village scenes, and invite friends over for songs and sundal. Telugu women celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks, songs and circle dances, often as a big community gathering. On Navami, South Indian families perform Ayudha Puja for tools, cars, books and laptops, and on Vijayadashami many children begin learning with Vidyarambham.

Dussehra puja at home in Dallas

  • Aparajita puja: worship Goddess Aparajita, the unconquerable one, during the Aparahna (2:19 PM – 4:33 PM). Draw a simple eight-petalled lotus with rice flour or kumkum, place a lamp and offer flowers.
  • Shami puja: offer water, rice, flowers and a lamp to a Shami tree or Shami leaves, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat (3:04 PM – 3:48 PM). In Telugu and Kannada homes this is Jammi or Banni puja, and in Maharashtrian homes Apta leaves are exchanged as "gold".
  • Shastra and Ayudha puja: clean and worship tools, your car, musical instruments, account books and laptops, marking them with kumkum and offering flowers.
  • Vidyarambham: for young children, write the first letters (or "Om") in a plate of rice with the help of an elder, and offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati.
  • Simple vidhi: bathe, light a lamp, invoke Ganesha, offer prayers to the Devi and to Lord Rama, recite the Rama Raksha Stotra or a few verses of the Ramayana, do aarti and share sweets.

If you are at work during the Vijay Muhurat, a short prayer during that window and a fuller family puja in the evening are both perfectly acceptable. For the full meaning of the festival and a detailed puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 complete guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Dallas

  • Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are working and school days. Plan your puja around the Vijay Muhurat, and expect most community celebrations on the nearest weekend.
  • Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open flames are set by the City of Dallas and by each surrounding city and county, and many cities in the Metroplex restrict fireworks within city limits. Check your local rules and leave effigy burning to organised events.
  • Getting there: DFW is a driving region, and temple and event car parks fill quickly on festival weekends. Carpool, arrive early, follow volunteers' directions and allow extra time on busy routes such as the Dallas North Tollway, US-75 and SH-121.
  • Weather: October in North Texas is usually pleasant but can bring warm afternoons and the odd thunderstorm. Carry water for outdoor events and check the forecast.
  • Dress and etiquette: wear modest clothing to temples, remove shoes where asked and follow each temple's guidance on photography.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Dallas?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Dallas is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 2:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October and ends at 3:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, Dallas time, so it covers the whole of Tuesday afternoon.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Dallas on Dussehra 2026?

3:04 PM – 3:48 PM on Tuesday 20 October 2026, Central Daylight Time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Dallas. The wider Aparahna period is 2:19 PM – 4:33 PM. Use these windows for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and Shastra or Ayudha puja.

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

No. Muhurats depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's timings cannot simply be converted into Central Time. Use the Dallas times on this page or your temple's own calendar. Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, Irving and the rest of the Metroplex will be within a minute or two of Dallas.

Where is Durga Puja held in Dallas?

Bengali associations in the Metroplex, such as the Bengali Association of Dallas Fort Worth and the Bengali Association of Greater Dallas (known for its Antorik Durga Puja), have organised Durga Pujas for many years. Each committee sets its own schedule, often around a weekend, so check their announcements. In India, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata).

Is Ravan Dahan held in Dallas?

In past years, DFW temples such as the Radha Krishna Temple in Allen, and large community melas, have included Ram Leela and Ravan Dahan in their Dussehra programmes. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. Fireworks and open-flame rules are set by local authorities.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Dallas?

No. Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a normal working and school day in Texas. Many families do a short puja during the Vijay Muhurat or in the evening and join temple and community celebrations on the weekend.