Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Pittsburgh is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Pittsburgh is 2:53 PM – 3:37 PM local time (EDT, UTC-4), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. The Dashami tithi runs from 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October to 4:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, Pittsburgh time, so the whole afternoon of the 20th is Dashami.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The local times on this page were calculated for Pittsburgh using the Drik Panchang method, with the Dashami tithi (12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October) shown in Pittsburgh's own time zone. Pennsylvania is still on daylight saving time on 20 October, so times are in EDT. We do not list 2026 event schedules, because temples and community groups set and announce these themselves. Please check their official websites or social pages before you go.

Pittsburgh has one of the oldest Hindu communities in the United States. Its hills hold some of the country's earliest traditional temples, and the Indian community, built around universities, hospitals and technology firms, celebrates Navratri and Dussehra with a mix of Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi and North Indian traditions.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and Vijay Muhurat for Pittsburgh

ObservancePittsburgh (2026)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October
Durga Ashtami and Maha NavamiMonday 19 October (India dates; follow your temple's calendar)
Dussehra / VijayadashamiTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi beginsTue 20 Oct, 3:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 4:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)2:53 PM – 3:37 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja window)2:10 PM – 4:21 PM
Sunset6:32 PM

All times are Pittsburgh local time (UTC-0400). In India, Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October and Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Because Dashami is in force through the whole Aparahna in Pittsburgh, there is no doubt about the date here: Tuesday 20 October is Dussehra. The Vijay Muhurat sits comfortably inside both the Aparahna and the Dashami tithi.

Hindu temples in Pittsburgh for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations are established in the Pittsburgh area. We list names and neighbourhoods only; check their official websites for timings and 2026 programmes.

  • Sri Venkateswara (SV) Temple, Penn Hills: one of the first traditional Hindu temples built in the United States, in the style of the Tirumala temple, and a pilgrimage site for devotees across the Northeast and Midwest. Navratri here is typically observed in the South Indian manner with daily alankarams and pujas to the Goddess.
  • Hindu Jain Temple, Monroeville: a long-standing community temple where Hindus and Jains worship under one roof, with a busy calendar of festivals and cultural programmes.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Coraopolis: serving the western suburbs near the airport, with festival assemblies and family programmes.
  • Chinmaya Mission Pittsburgh, Monroeville and Mars: Chinmaya Sanjeevani in Monroeville and the Chinmaya Amarnath centre in Mars, north of the city, hold satsangs, Bala Vihar classes and festival pujas.
  • Bengali Association of Pittsburgh: the region's long-running Bengali community organisation, known for its annual Durga 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.

How Pittsburgh celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For Gujarati families and many others, Navratri means garba and dandiya raas. In Pittsburgh these nights are typically held in temple halls, school gyms and rented banquet spaces, often on Friday and Saturday evenings so that working families and students can join. University student groups also host garba nights on campus. Expect traditional chaniya choli and kediyu, live or recorded music, and an aarti to Amba Mata before the dancing begins.

Durga Puja

Pittsburgh's Bengali community has celebrated Durga Puja for decades. A typical diaspora puja includes the worship of Ma Durga with her children, pushpanjali, bhog, cultural programmes and the sound of the dhak, ending with Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela. In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami falls on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang for Kolkata), but diaspora Durga Pujas follow their committee's schedule.

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Golu, Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja

Pittsburgh's large Telugu, Tamil and Kannada communities keep South Indian Navaratri traditions alive. Many homes set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bommala Koluvu) of dolls on stepped shelves and invite friends for haldi-kumkum and sundal. Saraswati Puja is performed with books and instruments, and Ayudha Puja honours tools, vehicles and laptops, with Vidyarambham for young children on Vijayadashami. Telugu families may also play Bathukamma with flower stacks during the festival season.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families remember Ramlila and Ravan Dahan from home. In the US these are usually smaller: a Ramayana skit by children, a story session or, where local rules permit, a small effigy. Fireworks and effigy-burning rules are set by local authorities, so organisers have to follow city and township regulations.

Dussehra puja at home

If you cannot get to a temple on a Tuesday, a simple home puja is perfectly traditional. Do it in the Aparahna (2:10 PM – 4:21 PM), ideally during the Vijay Muhurat (2:53 PM – 3:37 PM).

  • Aparajita puja: draw a simple eight-petal lotus with rice or kumkum, invoke Devi Aparajita, the goddess of victory, and offer flowers, akshata and a lamp.
  • Shami puja: worship a Shami branch or leaves if you can find them; otherwise use a picture or apta leaves. In Maharashtra and Karnataka traditions, apta or Shami leaves are exchanged as "gold" with family and friends.
  • Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, car keys, laptops and musical instruments, apply kumkum and offer a flower.
  • Vidyarambham: help young children write their first letters, or "Om", in rice or sand to begin learning on an auspicious day.
  • Simple vidhi: light a diya, offer flowers and naivedya, recite the Ramraksha Stotra, Durga Saptashati verses or Hanuman Chalisa, perform aarti, and share prasad.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Pittsburgh

  • Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October are work and school days. Plan a short afternoon or evening puja, and expect temple celebrations to cluster on the weekends either side.
  • Time zone: Pittsburgh is on EDT (UTC-4) until clocks fall back in early November, so the times on this page are already adjusted.
  • Getting there: Penn Hills, Monroeville, Coraopolis and Mars are suburban, so most people drive. Car-pool on busy festival evenings, as temple parking can fill up, and allow extra time for bridges and tunnels at rush hour.
  • Weather: late October evenings in western Pennsylvania can be cool and damp. Bring a layer over festival clothes and comfortable shoes for garba.
  • Fireworks and fire: rules on fireworks, open flames and effigy burning are set by local authorities, so check your municipality before planning anything at home or outdoors.
  • Temple visits: check the temple's website for timings, dress code and any festival-day arrangements before you set out.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Pittsburgh?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October in Pittsburgh time and ends at 4:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, so it covers the whole of Tuesday afternoon. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Pittsburgh on Dussehra 2026?

2:53 PM – 3:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Pittsburgh. It falls inside the Aparahna (2:10 PM – 4:21 PM) and inside the Dashami tithi, so it is a good window for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and Ayudha puja.

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

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

Which Hindu temples in Pittsburgh celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

Well-known places include the Sri Venkateswara (SV) Temple in Penn Hills, the Hindu Jain Temple in Monroeville, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Coraopolis and Chinmaya Mission Pittsburgh's centres in Monroeville and Mars. Check each one's website or social pages for 2026 programmes.

When is Durga Puja and Sindoor Khela in Pittsburgh?

In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang for Kolkata). Durga Pujas in the US, including the Bengali Association of Pittsburgh's, follow their own committee's schedule, which is often arranged around a weekend, so check their announcements.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Pittsburgh?

No. Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026 are ordinary working and school days in Pennsylvania. Many families do a short puja in the afternoon or evening and join a temple or community celebration on the nearest weekend.