Dussehra 2026 in Ottawa: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Temples and Navratri Celebrations

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Ottawa is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat is 2:34 PM – 3:17 PM local time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on Monday 19 October 2026.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): Local times on this page were calculated for Ottawa, Ontario (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4 on 20 October) from the Drik Panchang Dashami tithi of 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October, using local sunrise and sunset. The Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas, the method Drik Panchang uses. We do not list 2026 event schedules, ticket prices or performance times, because temples and community groups announce these themselves.

Canada's capital has a well-established and growing Hindu community, drawn from North India, Gujarat, Bengal, South India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Caribbean, along with many students and public servants who have made the National Capital Region their home. Through Navratri, Ottawa's mandirs and community halls fill with Devi puja, bhajans, garba and family gatherings. Vijayadashami, the tenth day, celebrates Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and the Goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura, and it is one of the most auspicious days of the year to begin something new.

Dussehra 2026 dates and times for Ottawa

All times are Ottawa local time. Ontario is still on daylight saving time on 20 October, so clocks are at UTC-4. Because Dashami begins in the early hours of Tuesday and lasts until early Wednesday, the entire Aparahna and the Vijay Muhurat on 20 October fall within Dashami, and calendars agree on Tuesday 20 October for Ottawa. Gatineau, Kanata, Orléans and Barrhaven will be within a minute or so of these times.

Please do not convert India's Dussehra muhurat into Ottawa time. Muhurat windows depend on sunrise and sunset where you are, which is why this page gives times worked out for Ottawa itself.

Hindu temples in Ottawa for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and community organisations are well established in Ottawa and usually mark Navratri, Durga Puja or Vijayadashami. We list names and areas only; check each one's own website or social pages for timings and programmes.

• Hindu Temple of Ottawa-Carleton (Bank Street, Gloucester, south Ottawa): the city's largest Hindu temple, opened in 1989, with shrines to Ganesha, Kartikeya, Radha-Krishna, Shiva, Lakshmi-Narayana and other deities, and a community hall.
• Vishva Shakti Durga Mandir (Old Ottawa South): a mandir dedicated to the Goddess Durga, housed in a former church, and a natural focus for Navratri devotees.
• ISKCON Ottawa (Hare Krishna Temple) (Sandy Hill, near the University of Ottawa): the Hare Krishna temple, where Vijayadashami is also remembered as a day of Lord Rama's victory.
• Ottawa Sivan Temple (Ottawa): a Tamil Hindu temple founded in 2007, serving the Tamil community for worship, learning and social activities.
• Deshantari (Bengali cultural association, Ottawa): the non-profit group that has organised Ottawa's Bengali Durga Puja for decades.
• Gujarati Community Association of Ottawa (Ottawa): the community association known for its Navratri garba and dandiya raas nights.

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 Ottawa celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

Ottawa's Gujarati families and their friends from every background make garba and dandiya raas one of the liveliest parts of Navratri in the capital. Evenings typically start with aarti to the Goddess, followed by circles of garba around a decorated mata ni mandvi or lamp, and then faster dandiya with sticks. Events are usually held in temple halls and larger rented venues, and the biggest nights tend to fall on weekends.

Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami

Ottawa's Bengali community, with families from West Bengal and Bangladesh, has celebrated Durga Puja in the city for decades. A typical puja includes a pratima of the Goddess with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, dhak drumming, pushpanjali, bhog and evening cultural programmes. In India, the Bengali-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Diaspora committees often adjust their days to fit weekends and venue bookings, so follow your committee's own schedule.

Ramlila, Ram katha and Ravan Dahan

For North Indian, Nepali and Indo-Caribbean Hindu families in Ottawa, Dussehra is above all the day of Lord Rama's victory. Community programmes often include Ramayana readings, Ram katha, Ramlila scenes performed by children and youth, and a symbolic Ravan Dahan. Where an effigy is burnt, it is usually small and organised with the permission of the local authorities. Nepali families also mark the season as Dashain, receiving tika and jamara from elders.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

South Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil families bring their own traditions. Tamil, Telugu and Kannada households often set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bombe Habba) of dolls on steps and invite friends over during Navratri. Telugu families celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks, songs and circle dances. Tamil, Malayali and Kannada families observe Ayudha Puja on Navami, honouring tools, books and vehicles, and Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami, when young children write their first letters, often in rice, guided by an elder or priest.

Dussehra puja at home

Even on a busy Tuesday you can mark Vijayadashami at home. The ideal time for the main rituals is the Vijay Muhurat (2:34 PM – 3:17 PM) or, failing that, anywhere in the Aparahna (1:51 PM – 4:00 PM). Ravan Dahan and community celebrations are usually after sunset, which is at 6:09 PM in Ottawa.

• Aparajita puja: worship Goddess Aparajita, the unconquered form of Devi, with flowers, kumkum, rice and a lamp, and pray for victory over obstacles.
• Shami puja: if you have a Shami plant, or a picture of one, offer water, rice and flowers. In Maharashtra and Karnataka traditions, Apta or Shami leaves are exchanged as 'gold' with family and friends.
• Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, vehicles, laptops and books, apply kumkum and offer a flower. Many families do this on Navami, Monday 19 October.
• Vidyarambham: let a young child write 'Om' or the first letters of the alphabet in a plate of rice, guided by a parent or grandparent.
• Simple vidhi: light a lamp, invoke Lord Ganesha, offer prayers to Durga and Lord Rama, recite the Ram Raksha Stotra or Durga Saptashati verses if you know them, do aarti and share sweets.

Families who sowed barley (jaware or khetri) at Ghatasthapana usually take the shoots after the Navratri puja is complete and give them as blessings. For the full meaning of the festival and a detailed puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Ottawa

• Weekday festival: 20 and 21 October 2026 are ordinary school and work days in Ontario. Plan a short evening puja and look out for weekend programmes at your mandir.
• Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open-air burning are set by the City of Ottawa (and by the City of Gatineau across the river). Check the current rules before using fireworks, and leave effigy burning to organisers with permits.
• Parking and transit: temple car parks fill quickly on festival evenings. Carpool, arrive early, use OC Transpo where you can and follow the directions of volunteers.
• Weather: late-October evenings in Ottawa can be cold and wet. Bring a warm layer over festive clothes for any outdoor programme.
• Fasting: if you keep the Navratri fast, end it according to your family tradition, often after the Navami or Dashami puja.
• Clock check: Ontario and Quebec stay on daylight time until early November, so the times on this page are already in the local clock you will see on 20 October.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Ottawa?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. In Ottawa's local time, the Dashami tithi runs from 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October to 4:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, so the whole afternoon of the 20th falls within Dashami.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Ottawa on Dussehra 2026?

2:34 PM – 3:17 PM local time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. The wider Aparahna window is 1:51 PM – 4:00 PM.

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

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's times cannot simply be converted. Use the Ottawa times on this page or follow your mandir's calendar.

Where can I celebrate Navratri and Dussehra in Ottawa?

Ottawa's mandirs, including the Hindu Temple of Ottawa-Carleton, Vishva Shakti Durga Mandir, ISKCON Ottawa and the Ottawa Sivan Temple, usually mark Navratri and Vijayadashami, and community groups such as Deshantari and the Gujarati Community Association hold Durga Puja and garba. Check their websites or social pages for 2026 details.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela in 2026?

In India, the Bengali-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Puja committees in Ottawa set their own schedules, so follow your committee.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Ontario?

No. Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a regular school and work day, so many families do a short puja in the afternoon or evening and join community programmes on the nearest weekend.

Related guides

• Dussehra 2026 Canada, province by province
• Dussehra 2026 in Montreal
• Dussehra 2026 in Toronto
• Dussehra 2026 in Markham
• Dussehra 2026 in Brampton
• Navratri 2026 in Canada, city by city
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Diwali 2026 Canada: Lakshmi Puja muhurat city by city