Dussehra 2026 in Ireland, City by City: Date, Vijay Muhurat and Hindu Temples

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Ireland is on Tuesday 20 October 2026 in every city. The Vijay Muhurat, calculated by the Drik Panchang method, is 2:52 PM – 3:33 PM in Dublin, 3:02 PM – 3:43 PM in Cork and 2:50 PM – 3:31 PM in Belfast (Irish summer time and British Summer Time, both UTC+1). Navratri runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The local times on this page were calculated for each city from the Drik Panchang tithi (Dashami from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October 2026, India time), using the summer time still in force in Ireland and the UK on 20 October. The Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. We do not list 2026 event schedules, because temples and associations announce their own programmes; please check with them directly.

Ireland's Hindu community is young and growing fast. For decades it was small, centred on doctors, academics and a few business families, but since the 2000s large numbers of Indian nurses, doctors, IT professionals and students have settled in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, alongside Hindus from Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Nepal and elsewhere. The community is spread across every Indian language group, so Navratri in Ireland brings together Gujarati garba, Bengali Durga Puja, Tamil and Telugu Golu and Bathukamma, and North Indian Ramlila traditions. Northern Ireland has an older Indian community, with roots going back to Punjabi families who arrived from the 1930s, and Belfast's first temple was consecrated in 1982.

Dussehra 2026 in Ireland: dates and Vijay Muhurat by city

The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are both on UTC+0100 on 20 October; the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October. The Dashami tithi begins and ends at the same moment everywhere on the island, so only the sun-based windows differ from city to city, by a little over ten minutes between Belfast in the north-east and Galway in the west.

The Aparahna (afternoon period) is the traditional window for Aparajita and Shami puja, and sunset marks the time for any evening Ravan Dahan or aarti:

Key Navratri and Dussehra dates 2026

Ashtami and Navami share Monday 19 October in India's calendar this year, so families who do Kanya pujan on either day will hold it then. In every Irish city the Dashami tithi covers the whole Aparahna on 20 October, by more than two hours, so there is no doubt about the date.

Hindu temples in Ireland for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and associations have been confirmed to exist in or near each city. We list name and area only; check their own websites or social pages for opening hours and festival plans. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages.

Leinster: Dublin

Dublin's Vijay Muhurat is 2:52 PM – 3:33 PM, within an Aparahna of 2:11 PM – 4:14 PM, and sunset is at 6:18 PM. The capital and its commuter belt are home to most of Ireland's Hindus, and the city has the country's main temples.

• Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland (VHCCI) temple — Walkinstown, Dublin 12, near Ballymount. Opened in 2020 and described by its founders as Ireland's first official Hindu temple; its Durga Puja has become one of the biggest Hindu gatherings in the country.
• Ireland Vinayaka Temple — Kingswood, Dublin 24. A Ganesha temple run by a registered charity founded in 2004, which appointed Ireland's first resident Hindu priest and serves Tamil, Indian, Sri Lankan and Mauritian families.
• ISKCON Dublin (Hare Krishna temple) — Abbey Street, Dublin city centre. Known for kirtan, Bhagavad Gita study and vegetarian food.
• BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha — Enfield, Co. Meath, serving Gujarati and Swaminarayan families in Dublin's western commuter belt.

At Navratri, Dublin's Gujarati and wider Indian groups usually hold garba and dandiya nights in hired halls, Bengali families gather for Durga Puja with dhak, pushpanjali and bhog, and South Indian families visit each other's Golu displays. Ganesha and Devi temples typically hold special abhishekam, Lalitha Sahasranama chanting and Saraswati Puja near the end of the nine nights.

Munster: Cork and Limerick

Cork's Vijay Muhurat is 3:02 PM – 3:43 PM (sunset 6:30 PM) and Limerick's is also 3:02 PM – 3:43 PM (sunset 6:29 PM). Both cities have growing Indian communities linked to hospitals, universities and the pharmaceutical and tech industries.

• Sri Limerick Ganapathi Temple — Annacotty, Co. Limerick. A community Ganesha temple serving Hindu families in Limerick and the Mid-West.
• India Eire Cultural Association of Cork (IECA Cork) — Cork. A community association that supports Indian cultural events in the city.
• Durga Puja Cork — Cork. A volunteer team that has organised Durga Puja in Cork since 2017.

Cork does not yet have a permanent Hindu temple, and the community has been campaigning for an Indian-Irish cultural centre with a place of worship. Until then, Cork families combine community-hall celebrations with puja at home, and some travel to Limerick or Dublin for temple visits. Ireland's resident Hindu priests also travel to Cork, Limerick and Galway for prayer meetings and family ceremonies.

Connacht: Galway

Galway's Vijay Muhurat is 3:03 PM – 3:44 PM, the latest of the five cities, with an Aparahna of 2:22 PM – 4:26 PM and sunset at 6:29 PM. The Indian community here is built around the university, the hospitals and the medical-devices industry.

• Galway Indian Community — Galway city. A voluntary association active since 2006 that organises Durga Puja, Diwali and other festivals.
• Indian Cultural & Sports Community (ICSC) Galway — Galway city. Known for one of the West's largest Diwali gatherings.

There is no dedicated Hindu temple in Galway, so Navratri and Dussehra are marked through community events, home Golu and puja, and occasional visits from Dublin-based priests.

Northern Ireland: Belfast

Belfast's Vijay Muhurat is 2:50 PM – 3:31 PM in British Summer Time, the earliest on the island, with an Aparahna of 2:09 PM – 4:11 PM and sunset at 6:14 PM. Although Belfast is in the UK, its date and times line up closely with Dublin's.

• Indian Community Centre and Laxmi Narayan Mandir — Clifton Street, North Belfast. The centre opened in 1981 in a listed former church hall, and its temple deities were installed in 1982.
• ISKCON Radha Madhava Mandir — Upper Dunmurry Lane, south-west Belfast.

A Durga Puja and Dussehra festival has been held in Belfast since 2010, bringing together Bengali and other Indian families. For more on Northern Ireland, see our Dussehra 2026 Belfast guide.

How Ireland celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Because 11–20 October are ordinary working and school days, most community celebration in Ireland moves to the weekends around Navratri. Gujarati and wider Indian groups hold garba and dandiya nights in community halls and hotels, with chaniya choli and kediyu, a central Mataji image and aarti at the start. Bengali associations organise Durga Puja with a clay or fibre idol, pushpanjali, bhog and cultural evenings, ending with Bijoya greetings. Tamil and other South Indian families set up Golu (Bommai Kolu) displays of dolls on steps and invite friends home, while temples hold Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja. Telugu families may celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks and circle songs, and Nepali families mark Dashain with tika and jamara.

Large open-air Ravan Dahan as seen in India is rare in Ireland. Fireworks are heavily restricted in the Republic and need a licence in Northern Ireland, and open fires need local permission, so where groups mark Ravan Dahan it is usually with a small, permitted effigy, a children's Ramayana play or a symbolic burning. Many North Indian families tell children the story of Rama's victory at home or watch Ramlila online.

Dussehra puja at home

If you cannot reach a temple on a Tuesday, a short puja at home in the afternoon is entirely traditional. Ideally do it during your city's Vijay Muhurat, or at least within the Aparahna:

• Aparajita puja: draw an eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice flour, place a lamp, and worship Devi Aparajita, the goddess of victory, with flowers, akshat and a simple prayer for success over obstacles.
• Shami puja: if you have Shami leaves (or a substitute such as apta/bauhinia leaves from an Indian grocer), offer them to the Devi and exchange them with family as "gold" — a Maharashtrian and Karnataka custom.
• Ayudha Puja / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, books, laptops, bikes and the car, apply kumkum and offer flowers, thanking them for their service.
• Vidyarambham: Vijayadashami is the traditional day for small children to begin learning — writing "Om" or the first letters of the alphabet in rice.
• Seemollanghan and new beginnings: a short walk beyond your street, starting a course or signing a new venture are traditional symbols of victory on this day.

A simple order: bathe, light a lamp, pray to Ganesha, do the Aparajita and Shami puja, then Ayudha puja, offer naivedya (sweets, fruit), do aarti and share prasad. For full step-by-step vidhi and the stories behind the festival, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Ireland

• Working day: Tuesday 20 October is a normal working and school day north and south of the border. The Vijay Muhurat falls in mid-afternoon, so consider a short break, working from home, or doing the puja later within the Aparahna if you can.
• Fireworks and fire: fireworks are strictly controlled in the Republic of Ireland and need a licence in Northern Ireland, and rules on open fires and effigy burning are set by local authorities. Do not burn effigies in parks or gardens without permission.
• Getting to temples: parking at temples in industrial estates and community centres is limited on festival days. In Dublin, the Luas Red Line, Dublin Bus and DART are usually easier; elsewhere, car-share with friends and check evening bus times.
• Weather: late-October evenings in Ireland are cool, windy and often wet, and sunset is between 6:14 PM and 6:30 PM depending on the city, so bring warm layers and rain gear for any outdoor events.
• Puja items: Indian grocers in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Belfast stock flowers, kumkum and sweets, but buy a few days early as stock runs short before Navratri weekends.
• Muhurat: use your own city's times from the table above; never convert India's times into Irish time.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Ireland?

Tuesday 20 October 2026 in every city on the island, including Belfast. The Dashami tithi begins at 8:20 AM Irish time on 20 October and ends at 9:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, so it covers the whole afternoon of the 20th.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Dublin, Cork and Galway?

Calculated by the Drik Panchang method for each city: Dublin 2:52 PM – 3:33 PM, Cork 3:02 PM – 3:43 PM and Galway 3:03 PM – 3:44 PM on Tuesday 20 October 2026, in Irish summer time (UTC+1). Limerick is 3:02 PM – 3:43 PM and Belfast 2:50 PM – 3:31 PM.

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

No. The Vijay Muhurat depends on local sunrise and sunset, so it has to be calculated for your own city. Use the Irish times on this page or your temple's calendar, not India's times shifted by the time difference.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela for Bengali families in Ireland?

In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Pujas in Ireland, such as those in Dublin, Cork and Galway, follow their own committee's schedule, so check their announcements.

Where will garba, Durga Puja and Ravan Dahan take place in Ireland?

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages. Fireworks and open fires are tightly regulated in Ireland and Northern Ireland, so Ravan Dahan is usually symbolic or held only with permission.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Ireland?

No. Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026 are normal working and school days in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, so many families do the afternoon puja at home and join temple or community celebrations in the evening or at the weekend.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 in Europe, country by country
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families
• Dussehra 2026 in Belfast
• Dussehra 2026 UK, region by region
• Navratri 2026 in the UK, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in Germany, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in the Netherlands, city by city
• October 2026 Hindu festival calendar