Ravana’s effigy burns
Dussehra in the US 2026
Dussehra 2026: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Dussehra 2026 in the US is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. 2 Dussehra events are listed below, in Pleasanton.
Dussehra–Diwali fairs with a Ravan Dahan run on the fairgrounds — Pleasanton’s at the Alameda County Fairgrounds (17 October 2026) is the Bay Area’s — and the temples stage Ramlila; Vijayadashami itself, 20 October, is a Tuesday, so the fairs take the weekends either side.
Dussehra events in the US2 listed
Dussehra is better with people near you
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What Dussehra is
The tenth day after Navratri: Rama’s victory over Ravana, kept with Ramlila plays and the burning of Ravana’s effigy — abroad, usually at the Diwali fair on the weekend before or after.
Dussehra (Vijayadashami, Dasara) closes Navratri on the tenth day. In the north it is Rama’s day: nights of Ramlila, the staged Ramayana, end with the burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad stuffed with fireworks. In Bengal it is Vijayadashami, the day Durga is immersed; in Mysore it is Dasara, a royal procession; in Gujarat it is the last garba night; in Nepal it is Dashain, the biggest festival of the year.
If it is your first one in the US
- The effigy is lit after dark; the fairs run all afternoon, so arrive for the Ramlila and stay for the fireworks.
- Vijayadashami is held auspicious for starting anything new — a class, a business, a child’s first lesson.
Questions people ask
- When is Dussehra 2026 in the US?
- Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. It is not a public holiday in the United States, so the community celebrates on the weekends around it — 2 events are listed on this page, each with its own date.
- Where can I celebrate Dussehra in the US?
- Dussehra–Diwali fairs with a Ravan Dahan run on the fairgrounds — Pleasanton’s at the Alameda County Fairgrounds (17 October 2026) is the Bay Area’s — and the temples stage Ramlila; Vijayadashami itself, 20 October, is a Tuesday, so the fairs take the weekends either side. This year’s listings so far are in Pleasanton.
- Can non-Indians go to Dussehra events in the US?
- Yes. Almost every community event is open to everyone and runs in English; temple and gurdwara celebrations welcome visitors too — dress modestly, and cover your head in a gurdwara.
More festivals in the US
Organising something?
Post it from the app under Events, wherever you are. It is free, a moderator checks it, and it appears here and to every member nearby. Running several a year? Email hello@namaste.community for a listing invite.