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

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in San Antonio is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat in San Antonio is 3:11 PM – 3:57 PM Central Daylight Time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method, inside the Aparahna period of 2:26 PM – 4:42 PM. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and Dashami tithi runs from 2:20 AM on 20 October to 3:41 AM on 21 October, local time.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The San Antonio dates and times on this page were calculated for San Antonio's own sunrise, sunset and time zone (America/Chicago, UTC-0500 on 20 October, as Texas is still on daylight saving time) using the Drik Panchang method, which follows the same rules Drik Panchang uses for India and North America. India's times have not been converted into San Antonio time. We do not list 2026 event schedules, venues or tickets, because temples and community groups announce these themselves; please check their official websites and social pages.

San Antonio's Hindu community has grown steadily over the past few decades, drawn by its universities, hospitals and employers. Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Bengali, Hindi-speaking and other families now mark Navratri and Vijayadashami across the city, and much of the community life is centred on the northwest side, along Loop 1604, the Medical Center area and out towards Helotes.

Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for San Antonio

All San Antonio times are Central Daylight Time (UTC-0500). For reference, in India Vijayadashami is also on Tuesday 20 October 2026, with Dashami tithi from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October. Because Dashami is already running when the San Antonio afternoon begins, the Vijay Muhurat falls fully within the tithi, and the whole Aparahna is suitable for Shami, Aparajita and Vijay puja. Ravan Dahan, where it is held, traditionally takes place after sunset.

Hindu temples in San Antonio for Navratri & Dussehra

These San Antonio temples and community organisations are well established and serve families through the festival season. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages.

• Hindu Temple of San Antonio (Helotes): the city's best-known Hindu temple, on a hilltop northwest of San Antonio, with a South Indian-style gopuram, a main shrine to Lord Balaji and shrines to Ganesha, Shiva and the Devi.
• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (northwest San Antonio, Loop 1604): a mandir of the BAPS Swaminarayan tradition and an important centre for the city's Gujarati families.
• Chinmaya Mission San Antonio – Sharadalaya (northwest San Antonio): home to a temple of Goddess Sharadamba on the grounds of the city's original "Mother Temple", with regular pujas and Bala Vihar classes; a natural place to think of for Vidyarambham and Saraswati worship.
• Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of San Antonio (Babcock Road, northwest side): a popular Sai Baba temple; Vijayadashami is also observed by Sai devotees as the anniversary of Sai Baba's samadhi.
• San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community (citywide): the Bengali community group that has organised Durga Puja in San Antonio in recent years.
• Telugu Association of San Antonio (citywide): the main Telugu community association, which brings together one of the city's larger Indian sub-communities.
• India Association of San Antonio (citywide): the umbrella cultural organisation best known for its annual Diwali festival in the city.

Timings and arrangements change from year to year, so always check the temple's or group's own website before you visit.

How San Antonio celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For Gujarati families, and increasingly for everyone, Navratri means garba. Community groups typically hire halls, school gyms or event centres for evenings of garba and dandiya raas around an image of Amba Ma, with colourful chaniya cholis and kediyus and an aarti to the Goddess. Bigger nights tend to fall on Fridays and Saturdays, and some events sell passes in advance.

Durga Puja

San Antonio's Bengali community has built up its own Durga Puja in recent years. A typical puja includes the image of Durga with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, the beat of the dhak, morning anjali, bhog, cultural programmes and food. It ends with Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela; in India these fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 according to Drik Panchang for Kolkata, but diaspora Durga Pujas follow their committee, and many move the main days to a weekend.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families keep the story of Rama alive through Ramayana readings, children's skits and community stage programmes. Where an effigy of Ravana is burnt, it is usually done at an open venue after dark, with permission from local authorities and with safety arrangements in place.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Tamil and Telugu households set up Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bommala Koluvu), steps of dolls depicting gods, saints and village scenes, and invite friends over for songs and sundal. With a sizeable Telugu community in the city, Bathukamma, with its flower stacks, songs and circle dances, is often celebrated as a community gathering. On Navami, South Indian families perform Ayudha Puja, worshipping tools, cars, books and laptops, and on Vijayadashami children begin learning with Vidyarambham.

Dussehra puja at home in San Antonio

You do not need to be at a temple to observe Vijayadashami. A simple home puja, timed to the San Antonio afternoon, keeps the essence of the day.

• Aparajita puja: worship Goddess Aparajita, the unconquerable one, during the Aparahna (2:26 PM – 4:42 PM). Draw a simple eight-petalled lotus with rice flour or kumkum, place a lamp and offer flowers.
• Shami puja: offer water, rice, flowers and a lamp to a Shami tree or Shami leaves, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat (3:11 PM – 3:57 PM). In Maharashtra and Karnataka traditions, Apta leaves are exchanged as "gold" with friends and family.
• Shastra and Ayudha puja: clean and worship tools, your car, musical instruments, account books and laptops, marking them with kumkum and offering flowers.
• Vidyarambham: for young children, write the first letters (or "Om") in a plate of rice with the help of an elder, and offer prayers to Goddess Saraswati.
• Simple vidhi: bathe, light a lamp, invoke Ganesha, offer prayers to the Devi and to Lord Rama, recite the Rama Raksha Stotra or a few verses of the Ramayana, do aarti and share sweets.

If you are at work during the Vijay Muhurat, a short prayer at your desk during that window and a fuller family puja in the evening are both perfectly acceptable. For the full meaning of the festival and a detailed puja procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 complete guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in San Antonio

• Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are working and school days. Plan your puja around the Vijay Muhurat, and expect most community celebrations on the nearest weekend.
• Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open flames are set by the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and surrounding cities such as Helotes, and they differ by location. Check your local rules and leave effigy burning to organised events.
• Getting there: most temples are on the northwest side and are easiest to reach by car. Parking fills quickly on festival weekends, so carpool, arrive early, follow volunteers' directions and allow extra time on Loop 1604 and I-10.
• Dress and etiquette: wear modest clothing to temples, remove shoes where asked and follow each temple's guidance on photography.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in San Antonio?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in San Antonio is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 2:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October and ends at 3:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, San Antonio time, so it covers the whole of Tuesday afternoon.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in San Antonio on Dussehra 2026?

3:11 PM – 3:57 PM on Tuesday 20 October 2026, Central Daylight Time, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for San Antonio. The wider Aparahna period is 2:26 PM – 4:42 PM. Use these windows for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and Shastra or Ayudha puja.

Can I convert India's Dussehra muhurat into San Antonio time?

No. Muhurats depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's timings cannot simply be converted into Central Time. Use the San Antonio times on this page or your temple's own calendar.

Is there a Durga Puja in San Antonio?

Yes. The San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community has organised Durga Puja in the city in recent years. Diaspora Durga Pujas follow their committee's schedule and often hold the main days on a weekend, so check their announcements. In India, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata).

Is Ravan Dahan held in San Antonio?

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. Any effigy burning needs permission from local authorities, who set the rules on fireworks and open flames.

Is Dussehra a holiday in San Antonio?

No. Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a normal working and school day in Texas. Many families do a short puja during the Vijay Muhurat or in the evening, and join temple and community celebrations on the weekend.

Related guides

• Dussehra 2026 USA, state by state: date and Vijay Muhurat
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 in Austin
• Dussehra 2026 in Houston
• Dussehra 2026 in Dallas
• Dussehra 2026 in Phoenix
• Navratri 2026 in the USA, city by city
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families