Dussehra 2026 Saudi Arabia: Date & Vijay Muhurat by City

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Saudi Arabia is on Tuesday 20 October 2026 in every city. The Vijay Muhurat, calculated by the Drik Panchang method, is 1:32 PM – 2:18 PM in Riyadh, 2:03 PM – 2:50 PM in Jeddah and 1:18 PM – 2:04 PM in Dammam and Al Khobar (Saudi time, UTC+3). Navratri runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): The local times on this page were calculated for each city from the Drik Panchang tithi (Dashami from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October 2026), shown in Saudi Arabia's own time zone, which is UTC+3 all year with no daylight saving. The Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. There are no public Hindu temples in Saudi Arabia, so this guide does not list temples or event schedules; it focuses on observing the festival privately and respectfully at home.

Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest Indian communities anywhere outside India, along with many families from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Engineers, doctors, nurses, accountants, IT professionals, technicians, drivers and shop workers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and elsewhere live and work in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province cities of Dammam and Al Khobar. For Hindu families among them, Navratri and Dussehra are deeply important festivals, but they are kept in a very different way from India or even neighbouring Gulf countries: quietly, at home, within the family.

Dussehra 2026 in Saudi Arabia: dates and Vijay Muhurat by city

The whole of Saudi Arabia uses Arabia Standard Time (UTC+0300) and does not change its clocks. The Dashami tithi begins at 10:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October and ends at 11:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October in every Saudi city, so Dashami covers the full afternoon of the 20th everywhere. That makes Tuesday 20 October 2026 Vijayadashami across the Kingdom, the same date as in India, and the Vijay Muhurat falls well inside the Dashami tithi in all four cities.

Region	City	Dussehra date	Vijay Muhurat (Drik Panchang method)	Dashami begins → ends (local)
Riyadh	Riyadh	Tue 20 Oct	1:32 PM – 2:18 PM	Tue 20 Oct, 10:20 AM → Wed 21 Oct, 11:41 AM
Makkah Province	Jeddah	Tue 20 Oct	2:03 PM – 2:50 PM	Tue 20 Oct, 10:20 AM → Wed 21 Oct, 11:41 AM
Eastern Province	Dammam	Tue 20 Oct	1:18 PM – 2:04 PM	Tue 20 Oct, 10:20 AM → Wed 21 Oct, 11:41 AM
Eastern Province	Al Khobar	Tue 20 Oct	1:18 PM – 2:04 PM	Tue 20 Oct, 10:20 AM → Wed 21 Oct, 11:41 AM

Because Saudi Arabia stretches roughly 1,300 km from the Red Sea to the Gulf, the muhurat moves by more than half an hour from east to west. Dammam and Al Khobar, on the Gulf coast, see the sun set first; Riyadh is in the middle; and Jeddah, on the Red Sea, is the latest. Use the time for the city you are in, or the nearest one listed.

Aparahna and sunset on Vijayadashami

The Aparahna (afternoon period) is the traditional window for Aparajita puja and Shami puja on Dussehra. If you cannot manage the Vijay Muhurat itself because of work or school, any time within the Aparahna on Tuesday 20 October is the next best choice.

City	Aparahna (Tue 20 Oct)	Sunset
Riyadh	12:46 PM – 3:04 PM	5:22 PM
Jeddah	1:17 PM – 3:36 PM	5:55 PM
Dammam	12:32 PM – 2:50 PM	5:07 PM
Al Khobar	12:32 PM – 2:49 PM	5:07 PM

Navratri 2026 key dates

Observance	Date (2026)
Navratri begins (Ghatasthapana)	Sunday 11 October
Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami (Kanya pujan)	Monday 19 October
Dussehra / Vijayadashami	Tuesday 20 October
Bijoya Dashami / Sindoor Khela (Bengal tradition, India)	Wednesday 21 October

Navratri dates are from Drik Panchang for India and apply in Saudi Arabia too. In 2026 Ashtami and Navami share a single day, Monday 19 October, so families who perform Kanya pujan on either day will do it then. Never convert India's muhurat times into Saudi time; use the local times above.

Hindu worship in Saudi Arabia: what to know

There are no public Hindu temples in Saudi Arabia. According to the US State Department's International Religious Freedom Report on Saudi Arabia, the law prohibits public non-Islamic worship and the public display of non-Islamic religious symbols, and non-Muslims practise their faith only in private. The report also notes that the definition of what counts as private is not clearly set out, and that non-citizens can face penalties, including deportation, for activities seen as public worship.

In practice, this means Navratri and Dussehra in Saudi Arabia are family festivals kept inside the home. Visitors and residents should respect local law and customs, keep puja items and observances private, and avoid anything that could be seen as a public religious gathering, procession or display. This guide does not suggest otherwise.

Instead of a temple: three ways to mark the festival

Home puja: a small, clean corner with a picture or murti of Durga, Rama or your family deity, a lamp and fresh flowers is all you need for Navratri and Dussehra. The step-by-step puja below is designed for a home setting.
Family observance: many families keep Navratri within their own household, sharing the fast, prasad and stories with children. Keep any get-together small, private and discreet, in line with local law.
Online darshan: many major temples in India stream their Navratri aarti and Vijayadashami puja live on their official websites and video channels. Following the live aarti from your family's home temple or a well-known Shakti peetha is a meaningful way to feel connected.

For consular questions, including passports, documents and emergencies, Indian nationals can contact the Embassy of India in Riyadh (eoiriyadh.gov.in) or the Consulate General of India in Jeddah (cgijeddah.gov.in), which covers the western and south-western parts of the Kingdom. Nepali, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi nationals should contact their own embassies.

Riyadh

Riyadh, the capital, has the largest share of the Kingdom's Indian professionals, in government projects, healthcare, finance, construction and technology, and families from almost every Indian state. Dussehra 2026 in Riyadh is on Tuesday 20 October, with the Vijay Muhurat at 1:32 PM – 2:18 PM and the Aparahna from 12:46 PM – 3:04 PM. Sunset is at 5:22 PM.

For most working parents in Riyadh, the Vijay Muhurat falls in the middle of the working day. Some families take a short break or work from home that afternoon; others do the Shami or Aparajita puja during the Aparahna if they can, and a longer evening aarti after work. Tamil and Telugu households commonly keep a small Golu or Bommala Koluvu display of dolls at home through Navratri, while Malayali families mark Pooja Veppu, placing books and tools before the Goddess on Ashtami or Navami and taking them back on Vijayadashami.

Makkah Province: Jeddah

Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast, is the commercial heart of western Saudi Arabia and has a long-established Indian community, with many families from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and North India. Dussehra 2026 in Jeddah is on Tuesday 20 October, with the Vijay Muhurat at 2:03 PM – 2:50 PM, the latest of the four cities, and the Aparahna from 1:17 PM – 3:36 PM. Sunset is at 5:55 PM.

Non-Muslims cannot enter the holy city of Makkah, so Hindu residents of the province live mainly in Jeddah. The later afternoon window in Jeddah can make it a little easier for families to complete a short Shami puja or Ayudha puja at home after school pick-up. Kerala families often mark Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami morning, when a parent or grandparent guides a young child to write their first letters in rice.

Eastern Province: Dammam and Al Khobar

Dammam and Al Khobar, together with nearby Dhahran, form the Eastern Province's oil, gas and industrial hub, and are home to many Indian engineers, technicians and their families. Dussehra 2026 in Dammam and Al Khobar is on Tuesday 20 October, with the Vijay Muhurat at 1:18 PM – 2:04 PM in both cities. The Aparahna runs from 12:32 PM – 2:50 PM in Dammam and 12:32 PM – 2:49 PM in Al Khobar, and sunset is at 5:07 PM.

In the Eastern Province, the earliest muhurat in the Kingdom, the tradition of Ayudha Puja has special meaning for families who work with machines and tools. On Navami or Vijayadashami, many households clean and decorate their work tools, laptops, vehicles and account books, mark them with sandalwood paste and kumkum, and offer a short prayer for safety and success in the year ahead.

How Hindu families in Saudi Arabia celebrate

Because there are no temples or public programmes, the festival here is shaped by each family's own regional tradition, kept at home:

Gujarati and Maharashtrian families: a Navratri lamp kept burning, daily aarti to Amba Mata, and garba songs played at home for the children. On Dussehra, Maharashtrian families exchange apta leaves as 'gold' with close relatives.
Bengali families: Durga Puja is remembered through Mahalaya listening, home bhog and, for married women, a private Sindoor Khela on Bijoya Dashami, Wednesday 21 October in India, followed by sweets and Bijoya greetings by phone.
North Indian families: the nine-day fast with vrat food such as kuttu, singhara and sabudana, Kanya pujan on Monday 19 October, and watching Ramlila and Ravan Dahan from India online with children.
South Indian families: Golu displays, Saraswati Puja with books and instruments, Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham; Telugu families may also remember Bathukamma songs at home.
Nepali families: Dashain is the year's biggest festival, with jamara sown at Ghatasthapana and tika received from elders on Vijaya Dashami.

Ravan Dahan, the burning of effigies, is a public outdoor tradition and is not something to attempt in Saudi Arabia. Many families instead tell the story of Rama's victory to children, or watch a live stream of Ravan Dahan from their hometown.

Dussehra puja at home

A simple Vijayadashami puja can be done in 20 to 30 minutes, ideally in the Vijay Muhurat or at least within the Aparahna for your city.

Prepare: bathe, clean the puja area and place a picture or murti of Durga, Rama or your family deity, with a lamp, incense, flowers, kumkum, haldi, rice and a sweet.
Aparajita puja: draw a small eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice and invoke Devi Aparajita, the undefeated Goddess, praying for victory over obstacles.
Shami puja: if you have Shami leaves or a small Shami plant, worship it; otherwise many families use a picture or offer rice in its place and recite the Shami prayer.
Ayudha puja: clean and worship tools, laptops, vehicles and books, a tradition especially strong in South India.
Vidyarambham: for young children, guide them to write 'Om' or the first letters in a plate of rice.
Close: perform aarti, offer prasad, seek elders' blessings and share sweets within the family.

For the full meaning, stories and a detailed procedure, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 complete guide.

Practical tips

Work and school: Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026 are normal working and school days. Plan a short puja within the afternoon window, or keep the main family celebration for the evening.
Keep it private: observe the festival at home and avoid public displays, processions or gatherings. Respect local law and customs at all times.
No fireworks or fires: fireworks and open fires are controlled by the local authorities. Use a simple oil lamp or diya safely indoors and never leave it unattended.
Puja items: many families bring small puja items and pictures for personal use when they travel from India. Keep them modest and for home use.
Use local times: always use the Saudi muhurat times on this page, not India's times converted to Saudi time.
Stay connected: a video call with family in India during aarti, or a live stream of your home temple, helps children feel part of the festival.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Saudi Arabia?

Tuesday 20 October 2026 in every Saudi city. The Dashami tithi begins at 10:20 AM Saudi time on 20 October and ends at 11:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, so it covers the whole afternoon of the 20th.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Riyadh and Jeddah on Dussehra 2026?

Calculated by the Drik Panchang method: 1:32 PM – 2:18 PM in Riyadh, 2:03 PM – 2:50 PM in Jeddah, and 1:18 PM – 2:04 PM in Dammam and Al Khobar, on Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Saudi time, UTC+3).

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

No. The Vijay Muhurat depends on local sunrise and sunset, so it must be calculated for your own city. Use the Saudi times on this page, not India's times shifted by two and a half hours.

Are there Hindu temples in Saudi Arabia?

No. There are no public Hindu temples in Saudi Arabia, and public non-Islamic worship is not permitted. Hindu residents usually mark Navratri and Dussehra privately at home with family, and many follow live aarti from temples in India online.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela for Bengali families?

In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Families in Saudi Arabia usually mark it quietly at home on the same day.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Saudi Arabia?

No. Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026 are normal working and school days in Saudi Arabia, where the weekend is Friday and Saturday. Many families do a short puja at home during the afternoon window or in the evening.