Dussehra 2026 in Washington DC: Date, Vijay Muhurat, Temples and Navratri Celebrations

Quick answer: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) 2026 in Washington DC is on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Vijay Muhurat for Washington DC is 2:42 PM – 3:26 PM local time (Eastern Daylight Time), calculated by the Drik Panchang method. Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October, and the Dashami tithi runs in Washington DC from 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October to 4:41 AM on Wednesday 21 October.

Editor's note (5 October 2026): Local timings on this page were calculated for Washington DC (America/New_York, UTC-0400 on 20 October) 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 Washington DC's own sunrise and sunset. We do not list 2026 event schedules, because temples and community groups announce these themselves.

The Washington metropolitan area, often called the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia), has one of the largest and most diverse Hindu communities on the East Coast. Most temples sit in the suburbs, from Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland to Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties in Northern Virginia, and families of Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Odia and Nepali heritage all mark the season in their own way. Dussehra caps the nine nights of Navratri with the celebration of Rama's victory over Ravana and the Goddess's victory over Mahishasura.

Dussehra 2026 dates and timings for Washington DC

All times are Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-0400). The United States is still on daylight saving time on 20 October, so these clock times already include it. Because the Dashami tithi begins well before dawn in Washington DC and covers the full Aparahna, there is no doubt about the date: Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October, and the Vijay Muhurat falls comfortably inside Dashami. In India, Navratri runs from 11 to 19 October 2026, with Ashtami and Navami sharing Monday 19 October. The same times work for nearby suburbs such as Silver Spring, Bethesda, Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax to within a minute or two.

Hindu temples in Washington DC for Navratri & Dussehra

There are few temples inside the District itself, but the suburbs of Maryland and Northern Virginia have many. These are some of the best-known mandirs serving the DMV:

• Sri Siva Vishnu Temple – Lanham, Maryland. A large South Indian-style temple that observes Sharada Navaratri with daily special pujas, Sahasranama archana and Vijaya Dasami.
• Murugan Temple of North America – Lanham, Maryland. The first temple in the United States dedicated to Lord Murugan, with shrines that include Durga and Meenakshi, and a full calendar of Tamil festivals.
• Washington Kali Temple – Burtonsville, Maryland. A temple of Goddess Kali, with Shiva, Durga and Ganesha, closely linked with the area's Bengali community.
• Durga Temple of Virginia – Fairfax Station / Lorton, Virginia. A large temple centred on Durga Mata, a natural focus for Navratri devotion in Northern Virginia.
• Rajdhani Mandir – Chantilly, Virginia. One of the oldest Hindu temples in Northern Virginia, serving families from many regional traditions.
• Sri Venkateswara Lotus Temple – Fairfax, Virginia. A temple built in the form of a lotus, with halls used for religious and cultural programmes.

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 abhishekam and alankaram during Navratri, Lalitha Sahasranama or Durga Saptashati chanting, Chandi homa, garba and dandiya nights, Golu displays, Saraswati puja, Ayudha puja and, on Vijayadashami, Vidyarambham for young children and a special evening aarti.

How Washington DC celebrates Navratri and Dussehra

Garba and dandiya

Gujarati associations and temples across Maryland and Virginia host garba and dandiya raas through the nine nights, in temple halls, school gyms and hired venues. Families come dressed in chaniya choli and kediyu to circle an image of Amba Mata, and the biggest nights usually fall on Fridays and Saturdays. Larger events often sell passes in advance.

Durga Puja

The DMV's Bengali community has celebrated Durga Puja for decades, with the idol of Durga with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, the beat of the dhak, cultural programmes, anjali and bhog. Odia families also hold their own pujas. 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 in the DC area follow their own committee's schedule, which is often arranged around a weekend.

Ramlila and Ravan Dahan

North Indian families mark Dussehra with stories of the Ramayana, and some temples and community groups in the region stage Ramlila scenes, children's plays or a Ravan Dahan. Burning effigies and setting off fireworks need permission from local authorities, so these events vary from year to year and often use smaller effigies or symbolic displays.

Golu, Bathukamma and Ayudha Puja

With a large South Indian community, the DMV sees many Golu (Bommai Kolu) displays of dolls on stepped shelves, with friends invited for haldi-kumkum and sundal. Telangana families celebrate Bathukamma with floral stacks and songs, and many households observe Saraswati puja and Ayudha puja at the end of Navratri, placing books, instruments, tools and laptops before the Goddess.

Dussehra puja at home

On Tuesday 20 October, try to perform the Vijayadashami rituals during the Vijay Muhurat, 2:42 PM – 3:26 PM, or at least within the Aparahna, 1:58 PM – 4:10 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, musical instruments and laptops, apply tilak and offer a flower to each.
• Vidyarambham: in South Indian homes, 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 jowar or 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 in Washington DC

• It's a weekday: Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October are working and school days. 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.
• Fireworks and effigies: rules on fireworks and open burning differ between DC, Maryland counties and Virginia counties, so check your local rules before planning anything at home.
• Getting there: most temples are in the suburbs and are easiest to reach by car. Parking fills quickly on festival weekends, so arrive early or carpool, and allow for Beltway traffic.
• Weather: late-October evenings in the DC area can be cool, so bring a layer for outdoor programmes.
• Temple etiquette: dress modestly, remove footwear where asked and follow each temple's guidance on photography.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra 2026 in Washington DC?

Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 3:20 AM on Tuesday 20 October in Washington DC (Eastern Daylight Time) and covers the whole afternoon, so Vijayadashami is observed on the 20th, the same day as in India.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Washington DC on Dussehra 2026?

2:42 PM – 3:26 PM local time on Tuesday 20 October 2026, calculated by the Drik Panchang method for Washington DC. The wider Aparahna period is 1:58 PM – 4:10 PM. This is the traditional time for Shami puja, Aparajita puja and starting new work.

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

No. Muhurat windows depend on local sunrise and sunset, so India's times cannot simply be converted into Eastern time. Use the Washington DC times on this page or your temple's calendar. Suburbs in Maryland and Northern Virginia will be within a minute or two.

Which temples in the Washington DC area celebrate Navratri and Dussehra?

Sri Siva Vishnu Temple and the Murugan Temple of North America in Lanham, the Washington Kali Temple in Burtonsville, the Durga Temple of Virginia in Fairfax Station, Rajdhani Mandir in Chantilly and Sri Venkateswara Lotus Temple in Fairfax all serve the DMV's Hindu community. Check each temple's website for its 2026 programme.

When is Durga Puja and Sindoor Khela for DC's Bengali community?

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

Is there Ravan Dahan in the Washington DC area?

Some temples and community groups in the region hold Ramlila or Ravan Dahan programmes, usually on a weekend near Dussehra. Rules on fireworks and burning effigies are set by local authorities, so any such event depends on permits. Check the organisers' websites or social pages for 2026 plans.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 USA, state by state
• Navratri 2026 in the USA, city by city
• Dussehra 2026 in Baltimore
• Dussehra 2026 in Richmond
• Dussehra 2026 in Philadelphia
• Dussehra 2026 in Raleigh
• Dussehra 2026 in New York City
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families