Dussehra 2026 in Sweden, City by City: Date, Vijay Muhurat and Hindu Temples

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Sweden is on Tuesday 20 October 2026 in every city. The Vijay Muhurat, calculated by the Drik Panchang method, is 2:10 PM – 2:49 PM in Stockholm, 2:36 PM – 3:16 PM in Gothenburg and 2:33 PM – 3:14 PM in Malmö (Swedish summer time, CEST, UTC+2). 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), using Swedish summer time, which is still in force on 20 October. The Vijay Muhurat is the 11th of the 15 daytime muhurtas, calculated by the Drik Panchang method. We do not list 2026 event schedules, because temples and associations announce their own programmes; please check with them directly.

Sweden's Hindu community is small but growing quickly. Its early core was Indian families who settled in the Stockholm area from the 1970s and 1980s and built the Helenelund Hindu Mandir, alongside Sri Lankan Tamil families who brought their own temple traditions. Since the 2000s a large wave of Indian engineers, IT professionals, researchers and students has arrived, especially in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö–Lund and Uppsala, bringing Bengali Durga Puja, Gujarati garba, North Indian Ramlila traditions, Telugu Bathukamma and South Indian Golu. Nepali and Bangladeshi Hindu families add their own Dashain and Durga Puja customs. The Nordic region has become known for some of Europe's liveliest community Durga Pujas.

Dussehra 2026 in Sweden: dates and Vijay Muhurat by city

All of Sweden is on Central European Summer Time (UTC+0200) on 20 October; the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October. The Dashami tithi begins and ends at the same moment everywhere, so only the sun-based windows differ from city to city. Stockholm and Uppsala, further east, have their windows about 25 minutes earlier than Gothenburg and Malmö.

The Aparahna (afternoon period) is the traditional window for Aparajita and Shami puja, and sunset marks the time for any evening Ravan Dahan or aarti. Swedish autumn days are short, so sunset comes early:

Key Navratri and Dussehra dates 2026

Ashtami and Navami share Monday 19 October in India's calendar this year, so families who do Kanya pujan on either day will hold it then. In every Swedish city the Dashami tithi covers the whole Aparahna on 20 October, so there is no doubt about the date.

Hindu temples in Sweden for Navratri & Dussehra

These temples and associations have been confirmed to exist in or near each city. We list name and area only; check their own websites or social pages for opening hours and festival plans. 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 Forum Sweden acts as a national umbrella body and can point you to groups near you.

Stockholm

Stockholm's Vijay Muhurat is 2:10 PM – 2:49 PM, within an Aparahna of 1:31 PM – 3:29 PM. The capital region has Sweden's largest and longest-established Hindu community, with Indian, Tamil, Bengali, Nepali and Bangladeshi families spread from Sollentuna in the north to Botkyrka in the south.

• Helenelund Hindu Mandir (Hindu Mandir Society) — Helenelund, Sollentuna. Inaugurated in 1998 as Stockholm's first large Hindu temple, it serves the wider Indo-Swedish community with regular pujas and festival celebrations.
• Sri Siddhi Vinayagar Temple — Farsta, southern Stockholm. A Tamil Ganesha temple founded in 2000 by the Hindu Culture Maintain Centre.
• Bangiya Sanatan Samaj — Stockholm. Runs what is described as the oldest Durga Puja in the Nordic region, celebrated for more than three decades.
• Vedic Sarbojonin Parshad — Rågsved, southern Stockholm. A community group that has hosted Durga Puja celebrations.
• ISKCON Korsnäs Gård — Grödinge, Botkyrka. A Hare Krishna temple in the countryside south of the city, home to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust's Nordic work.

In Stockholm, Durga Puja is the biggest community event of the season, typically with a clay or fibre idol, the sound of the dhak, pushpanjali, bhog and evening cultural programmes. At Helenelund, Navratri usually means Devi pujas and aarti, while Tamil families at Farsta mark Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja near the end of the nine nights and Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami.

Uppsala

Uppsala's Vijay Muhurat is 2:11 PM – 2:50 PM, almost identical to Stockholm's. The university city's Indian community is made up largely of researchers, doctoral students and professionals working in life sciences and IT.

• ISKCON Uppsala — central Uppsala. Listed in ISKCON's centre directory as holding programmes in the city.

Uppsala does not have a dedicated Hindu temple of its own, so many families travel to the Helenelund Hindu Mandir in Sollentuna, which lies on the commuter line between Uppsala and Stockholm. Community Durga Puja celebrations have also been held in Uppsala in recent years, organised by local groups in school or community halls — watch Indian community groups in the city for announcements.

Västra Götaland: Gothenburg

Gothenburg's Vijay Muhurat is 2:36 PM – 3:16 PM, within an Aparahna of 1:56 PM – 3:56 PM. Sweden's second city has a fast-growing Indian population, drawn by its automotive, engineering and IT industries.

• Hindu Temple Society of Gothenburg (HTSOG) — Lindholmen, Hisingen. Opened in 2023 as a temple and cultural centre for the region's Indian community, it is the natural focus for Navratri in western Sweden.
• Hare Krishna Temple Göteborg (ISKCON) — Majorna area, Gothenburg. Holds Sunday feasts and festivals and has an adjoining Govinda's restaurant.
• Bengali Association of Gothenburg — Gothenburg. Organises the city's community Durga Puja as well as Bengali New Year celebrations.

Indian associations in Gothenburg typically host garba and dandiya nights in rented halls on Navratri weekends, with a Mataji image and aarti at the start, while the Bengali community gathers for Durga Puja with anjali, bhog and Bijoya greetings at the close.

Skåne: Malmö, Lund and Helsingborg

Malmö's Vijay Muhurat is 2:33 PM – 3:14 PM, within an Aparahna of 1:53 PM – 3:55 PM. Lund and Helsingborg are within a minute or two of Malmö's times. The Öresund region's Indian community includes many families working in tech, pharma and at Lund University, and many also cross the bridge to Copenhagen.

• Indian Association in Malmö — Malmö. An active association since 2011 whose cultural club organises Indian festivals, including Navratri and dandiya evenings.
• Skåne Hindu Center — Malmö. A community group working towards a Hindu temple in Skåne dedicated to Durga, Ganesha, Shiva and Vishnu.
• Govindas Lund (ISKCON) — central Lund.
• Bengali Cultural Society of South Sweden — Helsingborg. Hosts a Durga Puja for Bengali families in southern Sweden.
• Sambandh — Helsingborg. Another Bengali group known for its Durga Puja celebrations.

Skåne does not yet have a purpose-built Hindu temple, so Navratri and Dussehra here are largely community events in hired halls, along with pujas at home. Some families also visit temples and Durga Pujas in Copenhagen.

How Sweden celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Because 11–20 October are ordinary working days, much of the community celebration in Sweden moves to the weekends around Navratri. Gujarati and wider Indian groups hold garba and dandiya nights in community halls, with chaniya choli and kediyu, a central Mataji image and aarti at the start. Bengali associations organise Durga Puja with pushpanjali, Sandhi Puja, bhog and cultural evenings, ending with Sindoor Khela and Bijoya greetings. Tamil and other South Indian families set up Golu (Bommai Kolu) displays at home and visit each other's homes, while temples hold Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja. Telugu families may celebrate Bathukamma with flower stacks and circle songs, and Nepali families mark Dashain with tika and jamara.

Large open-air Ravan Dahan as seen in India is rare in Sweden. Fireworks and open fires in public places need permission from the police or the municipality, and fire-safety rules are strict, so where groups mark Ravan Dahan it is usually with a small, permitted effigy, a stage play of the Ramayana or a symbolic burning. North Indian families often watch the Ramlila online or tell children the story of Rama's victory at home.

Dussehra puja at home

If you cannot reach a temple on a Tuesday, a short puja at home in the afternoon is entirely traditional. Ideally do it during your city's Vijay Muhurat, or at least within the Aparahna:

• Aparajita puja: draw an eight-petalled lotus with kumkum or rice flour, place a lamp, and worship Devi Aparajita, the goddess of victory, with flowers, akshat and a simple prayer for success over obstacles.
• Shami puja: if you have Shami leaves (or a substitute such as apta/bauhinia leaves from an Indian grocer), offer them to the Devi and exchange them with family as "gold" — a Maharashtrian and Karnataka custom.
• Ayudha Puja / Shastra puja: clean and decorate tools, books, laptops, bikes and the car, apply kumkum and offer flowers, thanking them for their service.
• Vidyarambham: Vijayadashami is the traditional day for small children to begin learning — writing "Om" or the first letters of the alphabet in rice.
• Seemollanghan and new beginnings: a short walk beyond your street, starting a course or signing a new venture are traditional symbols of victory on this day.

A simple order: bathe, light a lamp, pray to Ganesha, do the Aparajita and Shami puja, then Ayudha puja, offer naivedya (sweets, fruit), do aarti and share prasad. For full step-by-step vidhi and the stories behind the festival, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Practical tips for Dussehra in Sweden

• Working day: Tuesday 20 October is a normal working and school day. The Vijay Muhurat falls in early or mid-afternoon, so consider a short break, working from home, or doing the puja later within the Aparahna if you can.
• Fire and fireworks: rules on open fires, effigy burning and fireworks are set by the police and local municipalities and differ by place. Do not burn effigies in parks or gardens without permission, and keep diyas away from curtains indoors.
• Getting to temples: parking near temples is limited on festival days. Public transport — SL in Stockholm, Västtrafik in Gothenburg, Skånetrafiken in Skåne and UL in Uppsala — is usually easier; check evening services before you travel.
• Weather and daylight: late-October evenings are cold, dark and often wet, with sunset around 5:27 PM in Stockholm and 5:56 PM in Gothenburg and Malmö, so bring warm layers and reflectors for walks to evening events.
• Puja items: Indian grocers in the larger cities stock flowers, kumkum and sweets, but buy a few days early as stock runs short before Navratri weekends.
• Muhurat: use your own city's times from the table above; never convert India's times into Swedish time.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Sweden?

Tuesday 20 October 2026 in every Swedish city. The Dashami tithi begins at 9:20 AM Swedish time (CEST) on 20 October and ends at 10:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October, so it covers the whole afternoon of the 20th.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö?

Calculated by the Drik Panchang method for each city: Stockholm 2:10 PM – 2:49 PM, Gothenburg 2:36 PM – 3:16 PM, Malmö 2:33 PM – 3:14 PM and Uppsala 2:11 PM – 2:50 PM on Tuesday 20 October 2026, all in Swedish summer time (CEST).

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

No. The Vijay Muhurat depends on local sunrise and sunset, so it has to be calculated for your own city. Use the Swedish times on this page or your temple's calendar, not India's times shifted by the time difference.

When is Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela for Bengali families in Sweden?

In India, Bengal-tradition Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela fall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Kolkata). Durga Pujas in Sweden, such as those run by Bangiya Sanatan Samaj in Stockholm or the Bengali Association of Gothenburg, follow their own committee's schedule, so check their announcements.

Where will Ravan Dahan and garba take place in Sweden?

Temples and community groups usually announce Navratri garba, Durga Puja, Ramlila and Ravan Dahan programmes a few weeks ahead, so check their websites and social pages. Open fires and fireworks in public places need permission from the police or municipality, so most groups mark Ravan Dahan symbolically or indoors.

Is Dussehra a holiday in Sweden?

No. Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October 2026 are normal working and school days in Sweden, so many families do the afternoon puja at home and join temple or community celebrations in the evening or on the following weekend.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 in Europe, country by country
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families
• Dussehra 2026 in Norway, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in Denmark, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in Germany, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in the Netherlands, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 UK, region by region
• October 2026 Hindu festival calendar