Dussehra 2026 in Haryana: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Ramlila, Ravan Dahan, Sanjhi and Kurukshetra

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Haryana is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Vijay Muhurat: Gurugram 2:00 to 2:45 PM, Faridabad 1:59 to 2:44 PM, Kurukshetra 2:00 to 2:45 PM (local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method). Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Ashtami and Navami fall together on Monday 19 October 2026. Ravan Dahan takes place after sunset on Dussehra evening.

District by district: for 2026 events, arrangements and traditions in every district, see our district-wise Dussehra 2026 guide.

In Haryana, Dussehra is a festival of the whole community. For the nights of Navratri, Ramlila stages come alive in towns and villages, and in many homes women and girls shape the folk goddess Sanjhi on their walls. On Vijayadashami evening, effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are burnt in grounds from the new sectors of Gurugram and Faridabad to the old market towns. And in Kurukshetra, the land of the Bhagavad Gita, the festival's message of dharma's victory carries a special weight. This guide gives the 2026 dates, a Vijay Muhurat table, the traditions to know and tips for Haryanvi families living abroad.

Dussehra 2026 key dates (India)

Dates are from Drik Panchang for India. Because Ashtami and Navami share a single day in 2026, families who perform Kanya pujan on either day will do it on Monday 19 October. The Dashami tithi begins shortly after midday on 20 October and covers the afternoon, which is why Vijayadashami is observed on Tuesday 20 October.

Vijay Muhurat 2026 for Haryana cities

The Vijay Muhurat is the most auspicious window of Vijayadashami afternoon. It is the traditional time for Shami puja, Aparajita puja, Shastra puja (worship of weapons, tools and vehicles), starting new work, buying a vehicle or setting out on a journey. Timings for Tuesday 20 October 2026, in local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method:

The windows are within a minute of each other and all fall after the Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST. For other towns such as Panipat, Karnal, Ambala, Rohtak or Hisar, check a panchang set for that town.

How Haryana celebrates

Ramlila on village and town stages

Ramlila, the enactment of the Ramayana over several nights, is one of the oldest folk theatre traditions of North India, and Haryana's towns and villages have kept it alive for generations. Many Ramlila committees are run by local residents, who rehearse for weeks and play Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman and Ravana themselves, with dialogue, songs and humour that draw on local speech. Night by night the story moves from Rama's birth to exile, Sita's abduction, Hanuman's journey to Lanka and the final battle, which is timed to reach its climax on Vijayadashami.

Ravan Dahan

On Dussehra evening, after the enactment of Rama's victory, tall effigies of Ravana and his brothers, built of bamboo, paper and cloth and packed with firecrackers, are set alight, usually by an arrow, before cheering crowds. Every town has its Ravan Dahan, and in Gurugram and Faridabad, events are held in public grounds, residential sectors and housing societies. Some Haryana towns are known for very tall effigies. Venues, timings and any entry arrangements are announced by local committees each year.

Sanjhi: the goddess on the wall

A distinctive folk tradition of rural Haryana is Sanjhi. At the start of Navratri, women and girls make an image of the mother goddess Sanjhi on the wall of the house, shaping her face, ornaments, and the sun, moon and stars around her from clay or dung and decorating them with colour. Each evening they sing songs to Sanjhi and offer food, and around Dussehra she is taken down and immersed in a pond or stream. The custom is fading in cities, and its details vary from village to village, but it remains a much-loved part of Navratri for many families.

Kurukshetra and the victory of dharma

Kurukshetra, the Dharmakshetra of the opening verse of the Bhagavad Gita, is revered as the field of the Mahabharata war and the place where Krishna taught Arjuna the Gita. Its sacred sites include Brahma Sarovar and Jyotisar, traditionally identified as the spot where the Gita was spoken. Vijayadashami resonates here: the Pandavas are said to have recovered their weapons from a Shami tree on this day at the end of their year in disguise, before the events that led to Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra also has the Bhadrakali temple, regarded by many devotees as a Shakti Peetha, which draws devotees during Navratri. Check official information for current timings.

Navratri temples

Haryana's Devi temples are crowded through Navratri. The Mansa Devi temple at Panchkula and the Sheetla Mata temple at Gurugram are among the best-known, and many families keep the nine-day fast with vrat food such as kuttu, singhara and sabudana, ending with Kanya pujan, when young girls are honoured as forms of the Devi and served halwa, puri and chana. Check each temple's official information for current timings and arrangements.

Practical tips

• Crowds: big Ramlila and Ravan Dahan grounds draw very large crowds. Keep children close, agree a meeting point and carry minimal valuables.
• Safety: stand well back from the effigies and follow the instructions of organisers and police.
• Traffic: roads around major venues in Gurugram and Faridabad are usually congested on Dussehra evening. Check traffic police advisories.
• Firecrackers and air quality: rules on firecrackers in the NCR are set by the authorities and the courts and can change. Check current official orders, and air quality updates if you have breathing problems.

For Haryanvi families abroad

• Use a panchang calculated for your own city. Do not convert Gurugram's Vijay Muhurat into your local time zone.
• Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a working day in most countries. Many mandirs hold Ramlila or Ravan Dahan on the nearest weekend.
• Make a small Sanjhi with children using clay or paper cut-outs, and sing to her through Navratri.
• Read the Gita's opening chapter together on Vijayadashami and talk about what victory over one's own weaknesses means.

For the meaning of Dussehra and a full puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Share the Vijayadashami 2026 blessing

For Hindus in Haryana, Vijayadashami echoes from Ramlila stages and Sanjhi songs to the sacred land of Kurukshetra. It is the day of the victory of dharma, of light over darkness, when, as commonly told, Maa Durga overcame Mahishasura and Lord Rama defeated Ravana. Sharing blessings on this day carries that victory into every home and heart. Take a moment today to send a loving Dussehra blessing to your family, near or far.

Shami shloka for Vijayadashami

शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥

Shami shamayate papam shami shatru-vinashini, arjunasya dhanurdhari ramasya priyadarshini.

Meaning: The Shami tree takes away sin and destroys enemies; it held Arjuna's bow and is dear to Lord Rama. Many families recite this while offering Shami (Jammi) leaves on Vijayadashami.

Rama mantra to chant on Dussehra

रामाय रामभद्राय रामचन्द्राय वेधसे। रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः॥

Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya vedhase, raghunathaya nathaya sitayah pataye namah.

Meaning: Salutations to Rama, to Ramabhadra, to Ramachandra the creator, to the lord of the Raghu clan, to the husband of Sita.

Vijayadashami 2026 messages to share

Happy Vijayadashami to our dear family! 🪔 May the victory of good over evil fill our home with peace, health, togetherness and endless joy. Share on WhatsApp

Dussehra blessings from our home in Haryana! May the spirit of Kurukshetra's dharma guide your path and fill your life with courage and peace. 🙏 Share on WhatsApp

Dear parents and elders, Happy Dussehra! Your love and blessings are our greatest strength. May Maa Durga keep you healthy and happy always. 🙏 Share on WhatsApp

Happy Dussehra, dear friend! As the effigies burn tonight, may your worries burn away too, leaving room for courage, laughter and bright days ahead. ✨ Share on WhatsApp

Jai Maa Durga! On this Vijayadashami, may the Mother's Shakti fill you with fearless strength, guard your family and help you rise above every obstacle. 🌺 Share on WhatsApp

From all of us celebrating in Gurugram, Happy Dussehra to you and your team! May Lord Rama's truth and patience guide your work and bring honest success. 🏹 Share on WhatsApp

A short Vijayadashami prayer

Maa Durga, Lord Rama, on this Vijayadashami I bow before you with a grateful heart. Give me the strength to walk the path of dharma, the courage to face my struggles and the wisdom to act with humility and kindness. Keep my family free from negativity and united in love. Help me overcome the Ravana within, my anger, ego and fear, so that your divine light may guide every step we take.

Use the share buttons on this page to send these blessings to your family and friends.

Also read: Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti 2026 and Agroha.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Haryana?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Haryana is on Tuesday 20 October. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall together on Monday 19 October.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Gurugram on Dussehra 2026?

In Gurugram the Vijay Muhurat is 2:00 to 2:45 PM on Tuesday 20 October, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Faridabad's window is 1:59 to 2:44 PM and Kurukshetra's is 2:00 to 2:45 PM.

When is Ravan Dahan in Gurugram and Faridabad?

Ravan Dahan takes place after sunset on Dussehra evening, Tuesday 20 October, in public grounds, residential sectors and housing societies. Venues and timings are announced by local committees each year, so check local announcements.

What is Sanjhi in Haryana?

Sanjhi is a folk tradition of rural Haryana in which women and girls shape an image of the mother goddess on the house wall at the start of Navratri. They sing to her each evening and immerse her in a pond or stream around Dussehra.

Why is Kurukshetra special on Vijayadashami?

Kurukshetra is revered as the field of the Mahabharata and the place where Krishna taught Arjuna the Gita. As commonly told, the Pandavas recovered their weapons from a Shami tree on Vijayadashami, so the day's message of dharma's victory carries special weight there.

Which temples in Haryana are famous for Navratri?

The Mansa Devi temple at Panchkula, the Sheetla Mata temple at Gurugram and the Bhadrakali temple at Kurukshetra draw large crowds during Navratri. Check each temple's official information for current timings and arrangements.

Editor's note

Editor's note (5 October 2026): This page has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. Dates are from Drik Panchang for India, and the Vijay Muhurat timings are calculated by the Drik Panchang method for each city. We have not listed 2026 Ramlila schedules, Ravan Dahan venues or times, effigy heights or holiday dates, which are announced each year by organisers and the authorities; please check official sources. Sanjhi customs vary between villages and families. Temple timings change, so check official information.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 in Delhi
• Dussehra 2026 in Punjab
• Dussehra 2026 in Chandigarh
• Dussehra 2026 in Rajasthan
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families