Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Edison, New Jersey is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Edison is 2:31 PM – 3:15 PM local time (Eastern Daylight Time), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and the Dashami tithi runs in Edison 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 Edison (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 Edison's own sunrise and sunset. We do not list 2026 event schedules, because temples and community groups announce these themselves.

Edison and the surrounding towns of Middlesex County are home to one of the largest and most established Indian-American communities in the United States. Oak Tree Road, running through Edison and Iselin, is lined with Indian sweet shops, sari stores and restaurants, and during Navratri the whole area fills with garba nights, Durga Puja celebrations and festive shopping. Dussehra caps those nine nights with the celebration of Rama's victory over Ravana and the Goddess's victory over Mahishasura.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for Edison

ObservanceEdison, NJ (local time)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October 2026
Durga Ashtami and Maha NavamiMonday 19 October 2026 (in India; check your temple's calendar)
Dussehra / VijayadashamiTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi beginsTue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)2:31 PM – 3:15 PM
Aparahna1:47 PM – 3:59 PM
Sunset6:10 PM

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 well before dawn in Edison 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 Edison for Navratri & Dussehra

Central Jersey has many temples within a short drive of Edison. These are some of the best-known mandirs and community organisations serving the area:

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – Edison (Woodbridge Avenue area). A large traditional mandir and community centre of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, popular with Gujarati families.
  • Sai Datta Peetham (Sai Datta Mandir) – Oak Tree Road, Edison. A temple dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba and Lord Dattatreya, in the heart of Edison's Indian shopping district.
  • Shri Krishna Vrundavana – South Edison. A Madhva tradition temple with Udupi Sri Krishna as the presiding deity.
  • Sri Venkateswara Temple (Balaji Mandir) – Bridgewater. One of the oldest and largest South Indian-style temples in New Jersey, with many shrines.
  • Guruvayurappan Temple – Morganville. A Kerala-style temple that marks major festivals including Dasara.
  • Kallol of New Jersey – Edison. A long-running Bengali cultural association known for its annual Durga Puja.

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 Edison celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

With its large Gujarati population, Central Jersey is one of the garba capitals of North America. Through the nine nights of Navratri, school gyms, banquet halls, temple halls and community centres host garba and dandiya raas, with families dressed in chaniya choli and kediyu circling a decorated image of Amba Mata. The biggest events often take place on Friday and Saturday nights and can draw very large crowds, so organisers usually sell passes in advance.

Durga Puja

Edison'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, cultural programmes and bhog. 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 in New Jersey follow their own committee's schedule, which is often arranged around a weekend.

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Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families mark Dussehra with stories of the Ramayana, and some New Jersey temples and community groups stage Ramlila scenes 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 area 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, 2:31 PM – 3:15 PM, or at least within the Aparahna, 1:47 PM – 3:59 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 Edison

  • 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 state and local authorities, so check your township's rules before planning anything at home.
  • Parking and traffic: parking at popular temples and garba venues fills up quickly on festival weekends, and Oak Tree Road gets busy. Arrive early, carpool, or use NJ Transit where it is practical.
  • Weather: late-October evenings in New Jersey 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 Edison, NJ?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October in Edison (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 Edison on Dussehra 2026?

2:31 PM – 3:15 PM local time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Edison. The wider Aparahna period is 1:47 PM – 3:59 PM. This is the traditional time for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and starting new work.

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Can I convert India's Dussehra muhurat into New Jersey time?

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

Which temples in the Edison area celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edison, Sai Datta Peetham on Oak Tree Road, Shri Krishna Vrundavana in South Edison, Sri Venkateswara Temple (Balaji Mandir) in Bridgewater and the Guruvayurappan Temple in Morganville all serve Central Jersey's Hindu community. Check each temple's website for its 2026 programme.

When is Durga Puja and Sindoor Khela for Edison'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, such as those held by Kallol of New Jersey, follow their own committee's schedule, often on a weekend, so check their announcements.

Is there Ravan Dahan in Edison?

Some temples and community groups in New Jersey hold Ramlila or Ravan Dahan programmes, 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.