Dussehra 2026 on the Sunshine Coast: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Temples and Navratri Celebrations

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 on Queensland's Sunshine Coast is on Wednesday 21 October 2026, one day after India. The Vijay Muhurat for the Sunshine Coast is 1:41 PM – 2:32 PM local time (Queensland time, UTC+10), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and the Dashami tithi runs locally from 5:20 PM on Tuesday 20 October to 6:41 PM on Wednesday 21 October.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): Local timings on this page were calculated for the Sunshine Coast (Australia/Brisbane, UTC+10) from the Dashami tithi published by Drik Panchang, which runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October in India. The Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for the Sunshine Coast's own sunrise and sunset. We do not list 2026 event schedules, because temples and community groups announce these themselves.

The Sunshine Coast, stretching from Caloundra through Maroochydore and Mooloolaba to Noosa and the hinterland towns, has a small but growing Indian community. Doctors, nurses, IT professionals, students and young families have settled here over the past two decades, and the community now includes Gujarati, Malayali, North Indian, Tamil, Telugu, Nepali and Bengali households. Navratri and Dussehra here are intimate, community-sized celebrations, and many families combine local gatherings with trips down the Bruce Highway to the larger temples of Brisbane.

Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for the Sunshine Coast

All times are Queensland time (AEST, UTC+10). Queensland does not use daylight saving, so unlike Sydney and Melbourne the Sunshine Coast stays on UTC+10 all year. Because the Dashami tithi only begins in the evening of Tuesday 20 October, after the afternoon Aparahna, Vijayadashami moves to Wednesday 21 October, when Dashami covers the whole afternoon and the Vijay Muhurat sits comfortably inside it. In India, Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October 2026, with Ashtami and Navami sharing Monday 19 October, and Dussehra is on Tuesday 20 October.

Hindu temples in Sunshine Coast for Navratri & Dussehra

These are the mandir and community organisations serving the Sunshine Coast, along with the nearest large Brisbane temples that many local families visit:

• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – Glenview. The Sunshine Coast's own Hindu mandir, run by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and serving a close-knit local congregation.
• Sunshine Coast Indian Association – Sunshine Coast. A community association that brings Indian families together for cultural festivals, including its well-known Diwali celebration.
• Sunshine Coast Kerala Association (SCKA) – Sunshine Coast. A community group for Malayali families, listed in the Sunshine Coast Council community directory.
• Sunshine Coast Multicultural Network – Maroochydore. A multicultural network that connects many of the region's cultural communities and hosts celebrations through the year.
• Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir – Burbank, Brisbane. One of Queensland's oldest Hindu temples, run by the Hindu Religion and Mandir Association.
• Sri Selva Vinayakar Koyil – South Maclean, south of Brisbane. A large South Indian-style Ganesha temple and cultural hub for south-east Queensland.

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead — check their websites/social pages. Typical programmes include daily Devi aarti and bhajans during Navratri, Durga Saptashati or Lalitha Sahasranama chanting, garba and dandiya nights, Golu displays, Saraswati puja, Ayudha puja and, on Vijayadashami, Vidyarambham for young children and a special evening aarti.

How the Sunshine Coast celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

Gujarati families, including the congregation at Glenview, keep the garba tradition going through Navratri. People in chaniya choli and kediyu circle a decorated image of Amba Mata, dandiya sticks clacking in time, with snacks and chai afterwards. Families who want a bigger garba night often drive to Brisbane on a weekend. Newcomers and friends from other communities are almost always welcome to join the circle.

Durga Puja

The Sunshine Coast's Bengali and Bangladeshi families are few in number, so many join Durga Puja celebrations organised in Brisbane, with the idol of Durga alongside Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, pushpanjali, the beat of the dhak and bhog. In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 according to Drik Panchang for Kolkata, but diaspora Durga Pujas follow their own committee's schedule.

Ramayana stories and Ravan Dahan

North Indian and Nepali families mark Dussehra with the story of Rama's victory over Ravana through Ramayan readings, bhajans and children's plays, and Nepali households celebrate Dashain with tika and jamara from elders. Burning effigies and fireworks need approval from local authorities in Queensland, so large Ravan Dahan events are rare on the Coast; where one happens it is usually small or symbolic.

Golu, Vidyarambham, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

Malayali families observe Pooja Veppu, placing books and instruments before Saraswati on Durgashtami, and Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami, when little children write their first letters. Tamil and Telugu families set up Golu displays of dolls on stepped shelves, Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with stacked flowers and songs, and many South Indian homes perform Ayudha puja for tools, cars and laptops.

Dussehra puja at home

On Wednesday 21 October, try to perform the Vijayadashami rituals during the Vijay Muhurat, 1:41 PM – 2:32 PM, or at least within the Aparahna, 12:49 PM – 3:23 PM. A simple home vidhi:

• Aparajita puja: draw an eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice flour, invoke Goddess Aparajita in the centre, and offer flowers, akshata, a lamp and naivedya.
• Shami puja: worship a Shami plant if you have one, or Shami leaves (some families use apta leaves), and exchange the leaves as 'gold' with family and friends.
• Ayudha / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, vehicles, books, surfboards, musical instruments and laptops, apply tilak and offer a flower to each.
• Vidyarambham: children write their first letters, often 'Om' or 'Hari Sri', in a tray of rice with the help of an elder or teacher.
• Close the Navratri kalash: if you set up Ghatasthapana on 11 October, do the final aarti, immerse the sprouted barley respectfully and distribute prasad.

For the full puja procedure, mantras and the stories behind the festival, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra on the Sunshine Coast

• It's a weekday: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are working and school days in Queensland. Many temples and community groups hold their main celebrations on the nearest weekend, and the Vijay Muhurat falls during work hours, so plan a short break or a quick puja at home.
• Different date from India and some temples: your relatives in India will celebrate on Tuesday 20 October. Some community groups may follow India's date for convenience, so check what your temple or association is doing.
• Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and effigy burning in Queensland are set by state and local authorities, so check the rules before planning anything at home.
• Driving to Brisbane: the Bruce Highway can be slow on Friday evenings and weekends. Leave extra time if you are heading to a Brisbane temple, and consider carpooling with friends.
• Temple etiquette: dress modestly, remove footwear where asked and follow each temple's guidance on photography.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 on the Sunshine Coast?

Wednesday 21 October 2026. On the Sunshine Coast the Dashami tithi begins at 5:20 PM on Tuesday 20 October, after that afternoon's Aparahna has ended, so Vijayadashami is observed the next day, Wednesday 21 October. That is one day after India, which marks Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October.

What is the Vijay Muhurat on the Sunshine Coast on Dussehra 2026?

1:41 PM – 2:32 PM local time on Wednesday 21 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for the Sunshine Coast. The wider Aparahna period is 12:49 PM – 3:23 PM. This is the traditional time for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and starting new work.

Why is Dussehra on 21 October on the Sunshine Coast but 20 October in India?

Vijayadashami is kept on the day when the Dashami tithi covers the afternoon (Aparahna). The tithi starts at 12:50 PM IST on 20 October in India, which is already 5:20 PM on the Sunshine Coast, after the local afternoon is over. On 21 October Dashami runs until 6:41 PM local time and covers the whole Aparahna, so the 21st is the local Dussehra.

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

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's times cannot simply be converted into Queensland time. Use the Sunshine Coast times on this page or your temple's calendar.

Is there a Hindu temple on the Sunshine Coast?

Yes. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Glenview, in the Caloundra hinterland, serves the local Hindu community. Many families also travel to Brisbane temples such as the Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir at Burbank for larger Navratri and Dussehra programmes. Check each temple's website for its 2026 plans.

When is Durga Puja and Sindoor Khela for Bengali families on the Sunshine Coast?

In India, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 according to Drik Panchang for Kolkata. Diaspora Durga Pujas in south-east Queensland follow their own committee's schedule, often on a weekend, so check their announcements.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 Australia, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in Brisbane
• Dussehra 2026 on the Gold Coast
• Dussehra 2026 in Toowoomba
• Dussehra 2026 in Sydney
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families
• October 2026 Hindu festival calendar