Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in San Jose is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat in San Jose is 2:42 PM – 3:26 PM local time (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-0700), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and the Dashami tithi covers the whole of Dussehra afternoon in San Jose.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The San Jose times on this page were calculated for the city's own sunrise and sunset using the Drik Panchang method, with the Dashami tithi (12:50 PM IST 20 Oct to 2:11 PM IST 21 Oct) shown in local Pacific time. We do not list 2026 event schedules, ticket details or venues, because temples and community groups announce these themselves. Temple timings change, so check each temple's official website before you go.

Silicon Valley has one of the largest and most diverse Indian communities in the United States. In San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Cupertino and Fremont, families from Gujarat, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and North India bring their own Navratri and Dussehra customs, so the nine nights can include garba and dandiya, Durga Puja, Golu dolls, Bathukamma songs and Ramlila-style plays, all within a short drive.

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Dussehra 2026 dates and times for San Jose

ObservanceSan Jose (local time)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)Sunday 11 October 2026
Durga Ashtami and Maha NavamiMonday 19 October 2026 (India dates)
Dussehra / VijayadashamiTuesday 20 October 2026
Dashami tithi beginsTue 20 Oct, 12:20 AM
Dashami tithi endsWed 21 Oct, 1:41 AM
Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)2:42 PM – 3:26 PM
Aparahna (afternoon puja window)1:58 PM – 4:11 PM
Sunset6:24 PM

All San Jose times are in Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-0700); California is still on daylight saving time on 20 October. Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October 2026, with Ashtami and Navami falling together on 19 October in India's calendar, so families doing Kanya pujan will usually do it on Monday 19 October or the weekend before. In San Jose the Dashami tithi begins just after midnight on 20 October and lasts all day, so there is no doubt about the date: the Vijay Muhurat and the whole Aparahna fall inside Dashami. Please do not convert India's muhurat times into Pacific time; use the local times above.

Hindu temples in San Jose for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and organisations in San Jose and the nearby South Bay and East Bay usually mark Navratri and Vijayadashami. We list names and areas only. Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages.

  • Balaji Temple (San Jose): a South Indian temple dedicated to Lord Balaji and Mahalakshmi.
  • Sunnyvale Hindu Temple and Community Center (Sunnyvale): one of the largest community temples in Silicon Valley, where all major Hindu festivals are observed.
  • Shiv Durga Temple of Bay Area (Santa Clara): a temple whose main deity is Goddess Durga, popular with North Indian families during Navratri.
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Milpitas): a centre for the Gujarati and Swaminarayan community.
  • Fremont Hindu Temple (Fremont): a long-established temple and community hub in the East Bay.
  • Shiva Vishnu Temple (Livermore): a large traditional temple run by the Hindu Community and Cultural Center, known for its South Indian rituals.
  • Bay Area Prabasi (Bay Area): one of the oldest Bengali cultural organisations in the USA, which organises an annual Durga Puja.

How San Jose celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

For many Bay Area families, Navratri means garba. Gujarati and wider Indian community groups typically hire school gyms, convention halls and community centres for evenings of garba and dandiya raas, with live or recorded music, traditional chaniya choli and kediyu, and an aarti to Amba Mata at the start or in the middle of the night. Because Navratri nights fall on weekdays, the largest events tend to be on Friday and Saturday nights.

Durga Puja

The Bay Area's Bengali associations hold Durga Puja with a clay or fibre idol, the sound of the dhak, anjali, bhog, cultural programmes and food stalls. In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata), but diaspora pujas follow their own committee's schedule, which is often arranged around the weekend.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Tamil, Telugu and Kannada families in San Jose often set up a Golu (Bommai Kolu or Bombe Habba), a stepped display of dolls, and invite friends to see it, sing and share sundal. Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks, songs and circle dances, and many South Indian homes keep books and tools for Saraswati and Ayudha Puja on Navami, then take them back on Vijayadashami. Many temples also offer Vidyarambham, when young children write their first letters.

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Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian community groups in the Bay Area sometimes stage short Ramlila performances and a symbolic Ravan Dahan. Any burning of effigies or use of fireworks is governed by local fire rules set by the city and county, so these events are planned with the authorities. Where open fires are not allowed, groups often mark the victory of Rama with plays, music and a ceremonial arrow instead.

Dussehra puja at home

Even if you cannot reach a temple on a Tuesday, you can mark Vijayadashami at home in San Jose. The traditional time is the Aparahna, 1:58 PM – 4:11 PM, ideally during the Vijay Muhurat, 2:42 PM – 3:26 PM.

  • Aparajita puja: draw a simple eight-petal lotus with rice flour or kumkum, place a lamp in the centre and worship Goddess Aparajita, the undefeated, praying for victory over obstacles.
  • Shami puja: offer water, rice, flowers and kumkum to a Shami plant or leaves if you have them, or use apta leaves as many Maharashtrian families do, and exchange them with family as 'gold'.
  • Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, vehicles, laptops and work equipment, apply kumkum and offer a flower and a prayer.
  • Vidyarambham: help small children write 'Om' or the first letters of the alphabet in rice or on a slate.
  • Simple vidhi: bathe, light a lamp and incense, offer flowers and sweets, recite a Durga or Rama stotra, do aarti and share prasad.

Practical tips for Dussehra in San Jose

  • Weekday festival: Tuesday 20 October is a school and work day, so plan a short afternoon puja and join community events at the weekend.
  • Traffic and parking: temples and event venues in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Milpitas and Fremont get busy on festival evenings. Car-pool, arrive early, follow parking marshals and consider VTA light rail or Caltrain where they serve your venue.
  • Fire and fireworks rules: fireworks and open fires are controlled by local authorities. Check the current rules for your city before burning any effigy or lighting fireworks, and stick to diyas indoors with care.
  • Evening plans: sunset in San Jose on 20 October is at 6:24 PM, so evening aarti and community gatherings start after dark.
  • Check announcements: temple timings and programmes change each year; follow official websites and social pages.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in San Jose?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. In San Jose's local time the Dashami tithi runs from Tue 20 Oct, 12:20 AM to Wed 21 Oct, 1:41 AM, so it covers the whole afternoon of 20 October, the day of Vijayadashami.

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

2:42 PM – 3:26 PM local time (Pacific Daylight Time) on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. The wider Aparahna window is 1:58 PM – 4:11 PM.

Can I use India's Dussehra muhurat in San Jose?

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's times cannot simply be converted into Pacific time. Use the San Jose times on this page or your temple's panchang.

Where can I celebrate Navratri and Dussehra near San Jose?

Temples such as the Balaji Temple in San Jose, the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple and Community Center, the Shiv Durga Temple in Santa Clara and the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Milpitas usually mark the festival. Temples and community groups announce their programmes a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages.

When is Bijoya Dashami for Bay Area Durga Pujas?

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

Is Dussehra a holiday in San Jose?

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