Dussehra 2026 in College Station: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🎊

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 is October 20, closing the nine nights of Navratri 2026
• College Station's vibrant Indian student and faculty community makes this a genuinely festive occasion
• Shri Omkarnath Temple (HSBV) in nearby Navasota is the primary place of worship for the region
• The festive season runs from Navratri on October 11 straight through Diwali on November 8
• Karva Chauth 2026 on October 29 and Dhanteras 2026 on November 6 round out a packed calendar 🪔

Dussehra and What It Means in a University Town

College Station, Texas is home to Texas A&M University — one of the largest universities in the United States — and with it, one of the more dynamic Indian student communities in the South. Graduate students, research scholars, faculty, and their families bring the full spectrum of India's regional cultures to this Brazos Valley city, and the result is a Dussehra celebration that is genuinely alive.

Vijayadashami, observed on October 20, 2026, marks the tenth and final day of Navratri. It commemorates Lord Rama's defeat of Ravana, the ten-headed demon king, and Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. For Indian students far from home, Dussehra represents an anchor — a reminder of the rhythms of the subcontinent, a reason to gather, cook, pray, and share something meaningful with friends who understand.

The day has multiple textures. For some families, it is a formal puja morning. For students, it may be a garba night, a potluck dinner, or an evening at the mandir. For working professionals, it is a chance to wear traditional clothes and feel, briefly, that the distance from home has collapsed.

Navratri 2026: Nine Nights of Devotion

Navratri 2026 begins on October 11 and runs through Dussehra on October 20. Each of the nine nights is dedicated to a form of Goddess Durga — from Shailputri on the first night to Siddhidatri on the ninth. The progression builds spiritual momentum that makes Dussehra feel like an earned culmination rather than a standalone event.

In College Station, Indian student organizations at Texas A&M — including groups representing multiple regional communities — typically organize Navratri events with garba, dandiya, and cultural performances. The Brazos Valley Indian community comes together for these evenings in a spirit that combines devotion with the simple pleasure of gathering.

Durga Ashtami 2026 on October 18 is one of the peak moments within Navratri — the eighth night, when prayers and fasting reach their highest intensity. Families with children often observe kanya puja on this day.

Insider Tip: Texas A&M's Indian student associations often host pre-Dussehra garba nights on the weekend before October 20. Check the university event boards and Indian student organization social pages well in advance — these events fill quickly and are some of the best garba gatherings in the Brazos Valley.

Shri Omkarnath Temple (HSBV): The Regional Mandir

For the Indian community in College Station, the primary temple is Shri Omkarnath Temple, operated by HSBV (Hindu Samaj of Brazos Valley). Located at 23300 State Hwy 6 S, Navasota, TX 77868, the temple is a roughly 45-minute drive from College Station but serves as the spiritual center for the entire Brazos Valley Indian community.

The temple can be reached at (979) 307-0304 and maintains an online presence at hsbv.org, where festival schedules and event announcements are posted. During Dussehra week, Shri Omkarnath Temple holds special pujas, aartis, and community gatherings for Vijayadashami. Devotees make the drive to Navasota for darshan, prasad, and the irreplaceable experience of observing major festivals in a consecrated temple space.

For Indian families in College Station, HSBV represents something rare in a smaller American city — a genuine temple community with consistent ritual programming, not just a rented hall with occasional events.

The October-November Festival Season in Full

Dussehra is the linchpin of a remarkable festival stretch. The 2026 Hindu calendar in this period is especially rich for the College Station Indian community.

Navratri 2026 opens on October 11, bringing nine nights of garba and devotional worship. Durga Ashtami 2026 arrives on October 18. Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 falls on October 20. Ekadashi on October 21, Pradosh Vrat on October 23, and Purnima on October 25 follow in quick succession. Then Karva Chauth 2026 and Sankashti Chaturthi both land on October 29, making that Thursday particularly significant for Indian women observing the moonrise fast.

November continues the celebration. Ekadashi arrives on November 4. Dhanteras 2026 and Pradosh Vrat both fall on November 6, with families purchasing gold, silver, and new utensils for good fortune. Diwali 2026 then crowns the season on November 8.

For Indian students and families in College Station, this means nearly a month of back-to-back celebrations, each with its own character and ritual logic.

College Station's Indian Community During Festival Season

The Indian population in College Station is smaller than in Houston or Dallas, but it is densely interconnected in the way university communities tend to be. Graduate students who arrived from Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, or Kolkata find themselves sharing Dussehra with people whose regional traditions differ entirely from their own — and discovering, in the process, how much they have in common.

During Navratri and Dussehra, Indian grocery stores in the area stock up on festival essentials — puja items, sweets, traditional snacks, and fresh flowers for offerings. The weeks surrounding Dussehra are when the Indian community in College Station feels most visible and most cohesive.

For newcomers — students just beginning their programs, families newly relocated — Dussehra season is often when they first meet the broader Indian community. HSBV events and university student organization gatherings serve as natural entry points.

FAQ

Q: When is Dussehra 2026 in College Station? Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 is October 20. It falls on the tenth day of Navratri 2026, which begins October 11.

Q: Where do Indian families near College Station go for Dussehra puja? Shri Omkarnath Temple (HSBV) at 23300 State Hwy 6 S, Navasota, TX 77868 is the primary mandir for the Brazos Valley Indian community. Contact: (979) 307-0304, hsbv.org.

Q: Are there Navratri garba events in College Station? Yes. Indian student organizations at Texas A&M and community groups typically organize garba and dandiya events during Navratri 2026, which runs from October 11 to October 20. Check HSBV and university event boards for details.

Q: What other Indian festivals follow Dussehra in 2026? Karva Chauth 2026 is October 29, Dhanteras 2026 is November 6, and Diwali 2026 is November 8 — giving the community a continuous festive stretch through early November.

Q: Is Durga Ashtami 2026 observed in College Station? Durga Ashtami 2026 falls on October 18, two days before Dussehra. It is one of the most important nights of Navratri, and Shri Omkarnath Temple typically holds special observances on this date.

Bottom Line

For College Station's Indian community — students, faculty, families, and long-term residents alike — Dussehra 2026 on October 20 is the high point of the autumn festival season. With Navratri beginning October 11 at Shri Omkarnath Temple and the calendar running all the way to Diwali on November 8, October is the month when being Indian in the Brazos Valley feels most fully alive. Mark the dates, make the drive to Navasota, and let Vijayadashami remind you of what this season is actually for.