Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Sacramento is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat is 2:40 PM – 3:24 PM Pacific time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Sacramento. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Ravan Dahan is traditionally held after sunset on Dussehra evening.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The Sacramento times on this page were calculated for the city's own sunrise, sunset and time zone (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-7, which is still in force on 20 October), using the Drik Panchang method and the Dashami tithi published by Drik Panchang for India. They are not converted from Indian times. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or ticket details, because temples and community groups set these themselves each year; please check their own announcements.

Greater Sacramento is home to a large and diverse Hindu community. Fiji Indian families, many with roots going back several decades, sit alongside Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Marathi households, plus many newer arrivals working in tech, healthcare and state government. That mix means Navratri and Dussehra here can look like garba in a school gym one night, Ramayan path in a mandir the next, and a Durga Puja with dhak drums on the weekend.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and times for Sacramento

ObservanceDate / time (2026)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October
Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami (India, Drik Panchang)Monday 19 October
Dussehra / Vijayadashami in SacramentoTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi begins (Sacramento time)Tue 20 Oct, 12:20 AM
Dashami tithi ends (Sacramento time)Wed 21 Oct, 1:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)2:40 PM – 3:24 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja period)1:56 PM – 4:08 PM
Sunset6:21 PM

All Sacramento times are local Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-0700). In India the Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October; in Sacramento the same tithi begins just after midnight on Tuesday and lasts into the early hours of Wednesday. Because the whole Tuesday afternoon falls within Dashami, there is no doubt about the date: Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October in Sacramento, and the Vijay Muhurat falls comfortably inside the tithi.

Hindu temples in Sacramento for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations in the Sacramento area are well established. Each runs its own festival calendar, so check its official website or social pages for 2026 details.

  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – Mather, near Rancho Cordova. A large mandir serving the Greater Sacramento area, popular with Gujarati families.
  • Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir – South Sacramento (Elder Creek Road area). A North Indian temple following Fiji Hindu traditions, at the heart of the city's Fiji Indian community.
  • Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Cultural Center – north Sacramento. A temple and cultural centre with regular pujas to Ganapathy, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Venkateshwara and Hanuman, popular with South Indian families.
  • Vedanta Society of Sacramento – Carmichael. Part of the Ramakrishna–Vivekananda tradition, which marks the autumn worship of the Divine Mother Durga.

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. Many Bay Area temples are also within driving distance for families who want a larger celebration.

How Sacramento celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For Gujarati and many other families, Navratri means garba and dandiya raas. In the Sacramento region these nights are typically organised by temples and cultural associations in community halls, school gyms and event centres, often on Friday and Saturday nights through the festival. Expect circles of dancers in chaniya choli and kediyu, live or recorded music, an aarti to Amba Mata and snacks to finish. Family-friendly beginner circles are common.

Ramayan, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

Sacramento's Fiji Indian and North Indian communities have a strong Ramayan tradition, with groups reciting the Ramcharitmanas through Navratri. Dussehra celebrations typically include Ram katha, bhajans, children's plays about Rama's victory and, where local rules allow, the burning of a Ravana effigy. Many of these programmes are held on the weekend nearest Dussehra.

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Durga Puja

Bengali associations in the Sacramento area usually hold Durga Puja with a pratima of the Goddess, anjali, bhog, dhunuchi dance and evening cultural shows. In India, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata), but diaspora Durga Pujas follow their committee's own schedule, which is often fitted to the weekend.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Tamil, Telugu and Kannada families often set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bombe Habba) display of dolls on steps at home and invite friends to view it. Telugu families may celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks, songs and circle dances, usually as a community gathering. On Navami many South Indian households perform Ayudha Puja, worshipping tools, books, laptops and cars, and on Vijayadashami children may begin their learning with Vidyarambham.

Dussehra puja at home in Sacramento

Dussehra falls on a Tuesday, but a meaningful puja can be done in under an hour after work or school. The ideal time for Shami and Aparajita puja is the Vijay Muhurat (2:40 PM – 3:24 PM), and if that does not fit, any time within the Aparahna (1:56 PM – 4:08 PM) is traditional. Many families add an evening aarti around sunset (6:21 PM).

  • Aparajita puja: draw a simple eight-petal lotus with rice flour or kumkum, invoke the goddess Aparajita and offer flowers, akshata, lamp and incense, praying for victory over obstacles.
  • Shami puja: if you have a Shami plant, worship it with water, turmeric and kumkum. Some families exchange Shami (or apta) leaves as 'gold' with elders and friends.
  • Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, vehicles, books, laptops and musical instruments, then offer flowers and a lamp.
  • Vidyarambham: young children write their first letters, such as 'Om' or the alphabet, in rice or on a slate, guided by a parent or priest.
  • Simple vidhi: light a diya, offer Ganesh vandana, recite a Durga or Rama stotra, offer naivedya (sweets or fruit), perform aarti and share prasad.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Sacramento

  • Weekday timing: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are normal work and school days, so plan home puja for the afternoon or evening and look for weekend temple events.
  • Effigies and fireworks: rules on fireworks, open flames and effigy burning are set by local authorities and fire departments. Check with your city or county, and follow organisers' instructions at any event.
  • Fire season: late October can still bring dry, windy conditions in the Sacramento Valley, so take extra care with diyas and lamps outdoors.
  • Parking and travel: popular temple events fill parking lots quickly. Arrive early, car-pool where you can and respect neighbourhood parking signs.
  • Fasting and food: Indian grocers around the region usually stock vrat ingredients like sabudana, kuttu and singhara flour before Navratri, but buy early.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Sacramento?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. In Sacramento the Dashami tithi runs from 12:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October to 1:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October (Pacific time), so it covers the whole of Tuesday afternoon. That makes Tuesday 20 October the day of Vijayadashami.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Sacramento on Dussehra 2026?

2:40 PM – 3:24 PM Pacific time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Sacramento. The wider Aparahna period is 1:56 PM – 4:08 PM, and sunset is at 6:21 PM.

Can I use India's Dussehra muhurat in Sacramento?

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

Which temples in Sacramento celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

Temples in the area include the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, the Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir in South Sacramento, the Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Cultural Center in north Sacramento and the Vedanta Society of Sacramento in Carmichael. Temples and community groups usually announce their programmes a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela in 2026?

In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Pujas in the Sacramento area follow their own committee's schedule, which is often set around the weekend.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Sacramento?

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