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

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Reading is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Reading is 2:32 PM – 3:14 PM local time (BST, UTC+1), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall together on Monday 19 October 2026.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Reading timings on this page were calculated for the town's own sunrise and sunset using the Drik Panchang method, in local British Summer Time (the UK is still on summer time on 20 October). India's Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October; the Reading equivalents are shown below. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because temples and community groups announce these themselves. Please check their official websites and social pages before you go.

Reading has a well-established and growing Hindu community. Gujarati and Punjabi families have been part of the town for decades, and the Thames Valley's technology and healthcare employers have brought many more families from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra. With Slough, Bracknell and Wokingham close by, Navratri in Reading brings together garba, Durga Puja, Golu and Ramayana traditions in temples, school halls and community centres across Berkshire.

Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for Reading

In Reading the Dashami tithi begins on Tuesday morning and lasts through the whole afternoon, so the Aparahna and Dashami overlap fully and the date is clear: Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October. The Vijay Muhurat, the eleventh of the fifteen daytime muhurtas, sits comfortably within both the Aparahna and the Dashami tithi. Ravan Dahan, where held, traditionally takes place after sunset.

Hindu temples in Reading for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations are established in Reading and the wider Berkshire area. Programmes vary from year to year, so check each one's official website or social pages for current details.

• Reading Hindu Temple, Whitley: the town's main mandir and community centre, a registered charity south of the town centre that holds prayers, worship and cultural activities for Hindu families from across Reading.
• Shirdi Sai Temple, Reading town centre: a temple dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba in central Reading, where devotees gather for aarti and bhajans.
• Hindu Society (Reading), Lower Earley: a registered charity that promotes Hindu religion and values and organises cultural, religious and youth events for the community.
• Reading Bengali Cultural Society: the Bengali community organisation that has hosted large Durga Puja celebrations in Reading.
• Royal Berkshire Bengali Association, Slough: a Berkshire-wide Bengali group whose Durga Puja in Slough draws families from Reading and the Thames Valley.

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 Reading celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya nights

Reading's Gujarati families keep garba and dandiya raas at the heart of Navratri. Typical evenings start with an aarti to Amba Mata, followed by hours of circular garba and dandiya to live or recorded music, with families dressed in chaniya choli and kediyu. Some groups hold garba on several nights of Navratri in temple or school halls, while bigger events across Berkshire tend to be held at weekends.

Durga Puja

Reading's Bengali community has celebrated Durga Puja for many years, and families also travel to pujas in Slough and London. A typical puja includes the dhak, pushpanjali on Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, bhog, cultural programmes and, at the end, Bijoya Dashami with Sindoor Khela and farewell to the Goddess. In India the Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami falls on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata), but diaspora pujas follow their own committee's schedule, often fitted around weekends.

Golu, Bathukamma, Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham

Reading's Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayali families keep South Indian Navaratri customs alive at home and in community halls. Many homes set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu) of dolls on stepped shelves and invite friends for kumkum, songs and sundal. Telangana families often gather to celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks and songs. On Navami, Ayudha Puja honours tools, books, instruments, laptops and cars, and on Vijayadashami many children begin learning with Vidyarambham.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

Punjabi and North Indian families mark Dussehra as Rama's victory over Ravana. In Reading this usually means Ramayana readings, bhajans, children's Ramlila performances and, where permission is given, a small symbolic effigy burning organised by a temple or community group. Large open-air Ravan Dahan events are far less common than in India, and any burning depends on the rules of Reading Borough Council and the fire service.

Dussehra puja at home

Because 20 October is a working Tuesday, many Reading families keep a short home puja and join community celebrations at the weekend. A simple vidhi:

• Prepare: clean the puja area, place an image of Durga, Rama or your family deity, and keep flowers, rice, kumkum, a diya and incense ready.
• Aparajita puja: in the Aparahna (1:50 PM – 3:55 PM), draw a small eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice and worship Goddess Aparajita, praying for victory over obstacles.
• Shami puja: offer worship to a Shami plant or a few Shami or Apta leaves, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat (2:32 PM – 3:14 PM).
• Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, laptops, books, musical instruments and the car, apply kumkum and offer a flower.
• Vidyarambham: children can write their first letters or 'Om' in rice, or begin a new class or instrument.
• Close: light the diya, offer naivedya and sing an aarti. If you kept the Navratri fast, break it as per your family custom.

For the meaning of Dussehra, the stories behind it and a fuller puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Reading

• Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are school and work days. The Vijay Muhurat falls in mid-afternoon, so plan a short break or keep the Shami puja simple at home.
• Weekend events: many garba nights, Durga Pujas and Ramlila programmes are held on the weekends either side of Dussehra. Check dates directly with the organisers.
• Fire and fireworks: rules on fireworks, open flames and effigy burning are set by UK law and local authorities. Check with the council before planning anything outdoors, and never light diyas near curtains or decorations.
• Getting there: parking near temples and community halls is limited on festival evenings. Reading Buses and car-sharing help, and for events in Slough or London the train is often the easier option; allow extra time.
• Clock check: the UK is still on British Summer Time on 20 October, so the times on this page are BST (UTC+1).

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Reading?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on Monday 19 October. In Reading the Dashami tithi runs from Tue 20 Oct, 8:20 AM to Wed 21 Oct, 9:41 AM local time, so it covers the whole afternoon of the 20th.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Reading on Dussehra 2026?

2:32 PM – 3:14 PM British Summer Time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Reading. It falls inside the Aparahna (1:50 PM – 3:55 PM), and the whole window is within the Dashami tithi.

Can I use the Vijay Muhurat published for India or London?

Not India's. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's times cannot simply be converted into UK time. London's window is only a few minutes different from Reading's, but for accuracy use the Reading timings on this page or your mandir's calendar.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela in Reading?

In India, the Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Puja committees in Reading and Berkshire set their own schedules, often around a weekend, so follow your puja committee's announcements.

Which temples in Reading celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

The Reading Hindu Temple in Whitley and the Shirdi Sai Temple in the town centre are the main places of worship, alongside community organisations such as the Hindu Society (Reading) in Lower Earley and the Reading Bengali Cultural Society. Check each one's website or social pages for its 2026 programme.

Is there Ravan Dahan in Reading?

Large open-air effigy burnings are rare in the UK because of fire safety rules and permissions. Some temples and community groups mark Rama's victory with Ramayana readings, children's Ramlila performances or a symbolic Ravan Dahan, usually on a weekend near Dussehra. Temples and community groups usually announce these a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages.

Related guides

• Dussehra 2026 UK, region by region
• Dussehra 2026 in London
• Dussehra 2026 in Slough
• Dussehra 2026 in Milton Keynes
• Dussehra 2026 in Southampton
• Dussehra 2026 in Luton
• Navratri 2026 in the UK, city by city
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide