Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Edmonton is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Edmonton is 3:00 PM – 3:42 PM local time (UTC-6), 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 Edmonton timings on this page were calculated for the city's own sunrise and sunset using the Drik Panchang method, in local time. Alberta now stays on daylight time all year, so Edmonton is on UTC-6 on 20 October. India's Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October; the Edmonton 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.

Edmonton's Hindu community is one of the oldest in western Canada. The Hindu Society of Alberta built the province's first Hindu temple, Fijian Hindu families founded their own mandir in the 1980s, and Sri Lankan Tamil families built a Ganesha temple on the city's south-east side. In recent years the community has grown quickly with students, health workers and engineers from Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Bengal, and Navratri and Dussehra now fill temple halls and community venues across the city.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for Edmonton

ObservanceEdmonton (local time, UTC-6)
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, 1:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 2:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (calculated by the Drik Panchang method)3:00 PM – 3:42 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja window)2:19 PM – 4:23 PM
Sunset6:26 PM

In Edmonton the Dashami tithi begins in the early hours of Tuesday 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.

Hindu temples in Edmonton for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations are established in Edmonton. Programmes vary from year to year, so check each one's official website for current details.

  • Hindu Society of Alberta, north Edmonton: the first Hindu temple established in Alberta, often described as the city's North Indian temple, which marks the major festivals of the year.
  • Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta, south Edmonton: a long-running temple and cultural society serving families on the south side of the city.
  • Fiji Sanatan Society of Alberta (Vishnu Mandir), north-east Edmonton: founded by some of the first Fijian Hindu immigrants in 1984 and now one of the largest Hindu temples in the city, with a strong Ramayan tradition.
  • Shri Maha Ganapathy Temple (Maha Ganapathy Society of Alberta), south-east Edmonton: a South Indian temple built by Sri Lankan Tamil families and consecrated in 2000, following Tamil temple traditions.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Edmonton: the Swaminarayan mandir inaugurated in 2021, a hub for the city's Gujarati community.
  • ISKCON Edmonton (Sri Sri Radha Govindaji), south Edmonton near Mill Woods: the Hare Krishna temple, where Vijayadashami is remembered as the day of Lord Rama's victory.

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 Edmonton celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya nights

Edmonton's Gujarati community, joined by many friends from other backgrounds, makes garba and dandiya raas the liveliest part of Navratri. A typical evening starts with an aarti to Amba Mata, followed by hours of circular garba and dandiya with live music or a DJ, with families in chaniya choli and kediyu. October evenings in Alberta are cold and most Navratri nights fall on weekdays, so the biggest events are usually held indoors on weekends, in temple halls, community centres and banquet venues.

Durga Puja

Bengali families in Edmonton come together for Durga Puja much as they do in larger cities. A typical puja includes the dhak, pushpanjali on Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, bhog, cultural programmes and, at the end, Bijoya Dashami with Sindoor Khela and 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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South Indian Navaratri traditions

Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayali families keep their own Navaratri customs at home and in temple programmes. Many homes set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu) of dolls on stepped shelves and invite friends for kumkum, songs and sundal. Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks and circle songs. On Navami, Ayudha Puja honours tools, books, instruments and vehicles, and on Vijayadashami many children begin learning with Vidyarambham.

Ramayana traditions and Ravan Dahan

North Indian, Punjabi and Fijian Hindu families mark Dussehra as Rama's victory over Ravana. In Edmonton this usually means Ramayan path, Ram katha, bhajans and children's Ramlila skits at temples and community events. Large open-air Ravan Dahan events are far less common than in India, and any effigy burning depends on approval under City of Edmonton fire and fireworks rules.

Dussehra puja at home

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

  • Prepare: clean the puja space, bathe, and place images of Durga, Rama and Saraswati with a lamp, flowers, kumkum, rice and sweets.
  • Aparajita and Shami puja: in the afternoon, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat (3:00 PM – 3:42 PM) or at least within the Aparahna (2:19 PM – 4:23 PM), worship Goddess Aparajita and offer prayers to the Shami tree. Shami trees do not grow outdoors in Alberta, so a few Shami leaves, a potted plant or a drawing of the tree is a traditional substitute.
  • Ayudha (Shastra) puja: clean and honour the tools of your work, such as laptops, books, instruments and car keys, with kumkum, flowers and a lamp.
  • Vidyarambham: help young children write their first letters, often 'Om' or the alphabet, in a plate of rice, with a prayer to Saraswati.
  • Close: perform aarti, share prasad and exchange greetings. Some families exchange Shami or Apta leaves as 'gold', a custom from Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Edmonton

  • Weekday timing: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October are school and work days in Alberta. Many temples move their main programmes to the weekend before or after, so check their calendars.
  • Clock check: Alberta no longer changes its clocks, so Edmonton stays on UTC-6. If you compare times with relatives in Ontario, British Columbia or India, double-check the difference.
  • Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open burning are set by the City of Edmonton and surrounding municipalities, and permits are usually required. Only attend effigy burnings run by organisers with the proper approvals.
  • Getting there: temple parking fills quickly on festival evenings. Carpool, arrive early, or check Edmonton Transit Service and LRT routes; some temples on the city's edges are easiest to reach by car.
  • Weather: late October evenings in Edmonton can be below freezing, sometimes with early snow, so bring a warm layer and allow extra driving time.
  • Sunset: sunset in Edmonton on 20 October is at 6:26 PM, a useful guide if you plan an evening aarti or a small family celebration.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Edmonton?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on Monday 19 October. In Edmonton the Dashami tithi runs from Tue 20 Oct, 1:20 AM to Wed 21 Oct, 2:41 AM local time, so it covers the whole afternoon of the 20th.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Edmonton on Dussehra 2026?

3:00 PM – 3:42 PM local time (UTC-6) on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Edmonton. It falls inside the Aparahna (2:19 PM – 4:23 PM), and the whole window is within the Dashami tithi.

Can I use the Vijay Muhurat published for India?

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

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela in Edmonton?

In India, the Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Puja organisers in Edmonton set their own schedules, often around the weekend, so follow your puja committee's announcements.

Which temples in Edmonton celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

The Hindu Society of Alberta in north Edmonton, the Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta in south Edmonton, the Fiji Sanatan Society of Alberta (Vishnu Mandir), the Maha Ganapathy Temple, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and ISKCON Edmonton are among the places Hindus gather. Check each one's website for its 2026 programme.

Is there Ravan Dahan in Edmonton?

Large open-air Ravan Dahan events are uncommon in Edmonton, and any effigy burning or fireworks need approval under City of Edmonton rules. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages.