Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Irvine is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Irvine is 2:27 PM – 3:12 PM local time (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-7), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Dashami tithi is in force for the whole of Tuesday afternoon, so this is the day for Shami puja, Aparajita puja, Ayudha puja and new beginnings.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Irvine times on this page were calculated for Irvine's own sunrise and sunset using the Drik Panchang method (the Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas), with the Dashami tithi of 12:50 PM IST 20 Oct to 2:11 PM IST 21 Oct shown in California time. California is still on daylight saving time on 20 October. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because temples and community groups set those each year; please check their official channels before you go.

Irvine and the surrounding cities of Orange County are home to one of Southern California's most established Indian-American communities, with families from Gujarat, Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab and across North India. That mix means Navratri and Dussehra season here brings garba nights, Durga Puja, Golu displays, Bathukamma and Ayudha puja, often within a few miles of each other.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and times for Irvine

ObservanceIrvine (local time)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October 2026
Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami (India)Monday 19 October 2026
Dussehra / VijayadashamiTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi beginsTue 20 Oct, 12:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 1:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)2:27 PM – 3:12 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja period)1:43 PM – 3:57 PM
Sunset6:11 PM

All Irvine times are Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7). In India, Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October 2026, with Ashtami and Navami falling together on 19 October, and Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October. Bengali-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 in India (Drik Panchang, Kolkata); Durga Puja committees in Southern California follow their own schedules, so check with your committee. The same Irvine times work for nearby Tustin, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Lake Forest and Mission Viejo to within a minute or two.

Hindu temples in Irvine for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and community organisations serve Irvine and the wider Orange County area. Most Irvine families also travel to the larger temples in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire for the main festival days.

  • The Mandir (Irvine): a devotee-run temple in Irvine that hosts major Hindu festivals for the local community, including Navratri.
  • ISKCON Laguna Beach (Sri Sri Panca Tattva Mandir) (Laguna Beach): a long-established Hare Krishna temple in south Orange County.
  • Sanatan Dharma Temple and Cultural Center (Norwalk): a North Indian-style mandir just across the county line in Los Angeles County.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Chino Hills): a large hand-carved stone mandir and cultural centre, a short drive north of Orange County.
  • Malibu Hindu Temple (Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple) (Calabasas): a landmark South Indian-style temple in Los Angeles County, known for its Navaratri celebrations.
  • Sanhoti (Orange County): a Bengali cultural organisation that celebrates Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja and Poila Boishakh.
  • Sanatan Bengali Society (Irvine): a Bengali heritage organisation that holds Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati 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. Timings change from year to year, so please confirm before you travel.

How Irvine celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For Orange County's Gujarati families, Navratri means garba. Community associations and temples typically rent school gyms, hotel ballrooms or event halls for nine nights or for the weekends of Navratri, with live or DJ music, an aarti to Amba Maa partway through, and circles of dancers in chaniya choli and kediyu. Dandiya raas with sticks usually follows later in the evening. Many events are family friendly and open to non-Gujaratis too.

Durga Puja

Orange County's Bengali community holds Durga Puja with a clay or fibreglass image of Ma Durga and her children, pushpanjali, bhog, cultural evenings and the beat of the dhak. Because most volunteers work weekdays, diaspora pujas are often held over a weekend close to the Indian dates, ending with Bijoya Dashami rituals, Sindoor Khela and the greeting of Shubho Bijoya.

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Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha puja

Tamil, Telugu and Kannada families set up Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bombe Habba) displays of dolls on odd-numbered steps at home and invite friends for haldi-kumkum and sundal. Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with towering flower arrangements and songs in a circle, often at a park or community hall. On Navami, many South Indian homes perform Ayudha puja, cleaning and worshipping tools, cars, laptops and books.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

Some North Indian community groups in Southern California stage Ramlila scenes and burn a Ravana effigy on or around Dussehra, usually on a weekend. Any open flame or fireworks need permission from local authorities, so these are organised events rather than backyard affairs.

Dussehra puja at home

If you cannot get to a temple on a Tuesday, a simple home puja is completely traditional. In Irvine, Dashami begins at Tue 20 Oct, 12:20 AM, so the whole afternoon is suitable. Aim for the Vijay Muhurat (2:27 PM – 3:12 PM), or at least within the Aparahna (1:43 PM – 3:57 PM). Families who are at work can do the main puja in the evening before or after sunset at 6:11 PM.

  • Aparajita puja: draw an eight-petalled lotus with rice flour or kumkum, invoke Devi Aparajita with Jaya and Vijaya on either side, and offer flowers, akshata and a lamp, praying for victory over obstacles.
  • Shami puja: worship a Shami branch or leaves (or a potted plant). In Maharashtra and Karnataka traditions, apta or Shami leaves are exchanged as 'gold' with family and friends.
  • Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, cars, laptops and instruments with turmeric, kumkum and flowers, and offer an aarti.
  • Vidyarambham: in Kerala and South Indian traditions, little children write their first letters in rice or sand, usually guided by an elder or a priest.
  • Simple vidhi: bathe, light a diya, invoke Ganesha, offer prayers to Durga, Rama and Aparajita, read a short passage of the Ramayana or Devi Mahatmya, and end with aarti and prasad.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Irvine

  • Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October are normal school and work days. Plan a short evening puja, and expect community celebrations on the nearest weekend.
  • Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open flames are set by local authorities and vary by city in Orange County, so check your city's rules before buying anything.
  • Parking: temple car parks fill up quickly at Navratri weekends. Car-pool, arrive early and follow volunteers' directions.
  • Garba nights: carry water, wear comfortable footwear for indoor floors, and keep tickets or passes on your phone.
  • Do not convert India's times: use the Irvine times on this page or your temple's panchang rather than adding hours to India's muhurat.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Irvine?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. Navratri runs from Sunday 11 October to Monday 19 October 2026, and Vijayadashami follows on Tuesday 20 October, the same date as in India.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Irvine on Dussehra 2026?

2:27 PM – 3:12 PM local time (Pacific Daylight Time) on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Irvine. The wider Aparahna period runs from 1:43 PM – 3:57 PM.

When does Dashami tithi begin and end in Irvine?

In Irvine local time, Dashami tithi begins on Tue 20 Oct, 12:20 AM and ends on Wed 21 Oct, 1:41 AM. That covers the whole of Tuesday's afternoon, so 20 October is clearly the day for Vijayadashami.

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

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

Where can I find Navratri garba and Durga Puja in Orange County?

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. Bengali groups such as Sanhoti and the Sanatan Bengali Society hold Durga Puja, and temples across the region host Navratri programmes.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Irvine?

No. Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a normal school and work day in California, so many families do a short puja in the evening, and community celebrations are often held on a nearby weekend.