Dussehra 2026 in Colleyville: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate
TL;DR
- Dussehra 2026 (Vijayadashami) falls on Tuesday, October 20 — the tenth day after Navratri begins
- Colleyville is in northeast Tarrant County, part of a DFW corridor with a rapidly growing South Asian community
- Madras Mojo Indian Restaurant (Colleyville Blvd) is Colleyville's primary local Indian dining spot
- Swadeshi in nearby Southlake serves as the go-to Indian grocery and fast-casual cafe for the area
- For Ravan Dahan and large-scale Garba, Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas in Allen is the DFW region's major celebration venue 🎆
What Is Dussehra — and Why Does It Matter?
For those new to the festival, Dussehra — also called Vijayadashami — is one of Hinduism's most significant annual celebrations. It falls on the tenth day of Navratri, the nine-night festival honoring the goddess Durga. In 2026, Navratri begins around October 10 and Dussehra arrives on Tuesday, October 20.
The festival commemorates the defeat of the demon king Ravana by Lord Rama, an event at the center of the Ramayana. At its core, Dussehra is a celebration of the victory of good (dharma) over evil (adharma). The most dramatic public expression of this is the burning of a large effigy of Ravana — the Ravan Dahan — staged in parks, temple grounds, and community spaces with fireworks and crowds. In North India and among diaspora communities worldwide, this is a communal, family event: people gather to watch the effigy go up in flames, and the moment carries both spiritual significance and genuine spectacle.
Dussehra also marks the end of Navratri's nine nights of Garba and Dandiya Raas dancing, making it the culmination of one of the South Asian calendar's most social and music-filled stretches. For the South Asian diaspora in Texas, it is one of the most anticipated evenings of the year.
Colleyville and the DFW South Asian Community
Colleyville occupies a quieter corner of northeast Tarrant County, flanked by Grapevine to the north and Southlake to the west. The broader Grapevine-Colleyville-Southlake area has seen rapid South Asian population growth over the past decade, driven by the technology and professional sectors clustered along the DFW corridor. Southlake's Asian population grew from roughly 10 percent in 2016 to nearly 20 percent by the early 2020s — Colleyville's trajectory follows a similar arc. This is a community that has built quietly, sustained by professional networks, school ties, and temple communities. It is dense enough now to support Indian restaurants, South Asian groceries, and regular cultural gatherings.
The festival calendar here is active. By October, Navratri Garba events, puja programs, and Dussehra gatherings are announced across the community's WhatsApp networks, temple newsletters, and local social media groups. If you are new to the area, September is the right time to plug in and start following those channels.
Dining in Colleyville: Indian Food on the Boulevard
Madras Mojo Indian Restaurant (5505 Colleyville Blvd, Ste. 100) is Colleyville's most prominent Indian dining option. It focuses on South Indian cuisine — curries, regional specialties, and sweet dishes — in a neighborhood-oriented setting. Community Impact reported its arrival on Colleyville Boulevard as a meaningful addition to the local South Asian dining scene, and it is the kind of place where regulars know the menu well and the cooking is consistent. If you are in town for Dussehra weekend and want a proper South Indian meal before or after the evening's events, Madras Mojo is your closest and most convenient option.
The broader Southlake corridor, a short drive west along Southlake Blvd, also has Indian fast-casual and street food options for those who want to extend the food tour before heading to a Dussehra event.
Groceries and Pooja Essentials Near Colleyville 🛒
For South Asian groceries near Colleyville, Swadeshi (2315 E. Southlake Blvd, Ste. 106, Southlake) is the most practical option. It opened in Southlake in January 2021 and operates as both an Indian grocery and a fast-casual restaurant — you can pick up atta, chaat snacks, spices, and sweets while also grabbing a quick biryani or samosa from the counter. The $1.25 samosas have a loyal following among local regulars. Swadeshi's location on Southlake Boulevard, which borders the commercial area serving both Southlake and Colleyville, makes it a logical stop for Dussehra pooja supplies: agarbatti, sindoor, dry fruits, puja thalis, and Indian sweets for prasad.
The other nearby grocery option is Hareli Fresh Market, also in Southlake, which carries upscale international groceries with South Asian products well represented. For a larger selection of regional Indian brands and fresh produce, the broader DFW Indian grocery corridor in Irving and Carrollton is about thirty to forty-five minutes west.
Where to Celebrate Dussehra Near Colleyville
Colleyville does not have a large Hindu temple that hosts a public Ravan Dahan event of its own. For the major DFW-area celebration, the destination is Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (1450 N Watters Rd, Allen, TX). The temple runs an eleven-night Navratri program each year, culminating in Dussehra on October 20, 2026 with a cultural performance, Ravan Dahan, and extended Garba and Dandiya Raas. It is the region's most organized large-scale celebration, drawing thousands of South Asian families from across the Metroplex.
Allen is east of Colleyville — roughly thirty to forty-five minutes by highway. Plan your route in advance and check the temple's website for 2026 event registration, ticketing, and parking details, as the Dussehra evening typically requires advance registration for certain portions of the program.
For something closer to home, watch for announcements from smaller local temple communities and South Asian cultural organizations in the Tarrant County area, which sometimes organize neighborhood-level Dussehra pujas, Ramleela performances, or community dinners.
Insider Tip 🪔: The Ravan Dahan at large DFW temple events draws very large crowds. Arrive at least ninety minutes before the scheduled effigy burning to secure parking and a good viewing position. Traditional or festive dress is common and entirely welcome — this is one of the year's most photographed evenings in the South Asian community.
FAQ
Q: When is Dussehra 2026? A: Dussehra (Vijayadashami) falls on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — the tenth day of Navratri.
Q: What is Ravan Dahan? A: Ravan Dahan is the ceremonial burning of an effigy of the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the destruction of evil by Lord Rama. It is typically performed in the evening at temple grounds or open public spaces, often accompanied by fireworks and cultural performances.
Q: Is there a temple in Colleyville that celebrates Dussehra publicly? A: There is no large Hindu temple in Colleyville confirmed as a public Dussehra event venue. The nearest major celebration is at Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas in Allen. Check local DFW South Asian community groups for smaller, neighborhood-level events that may be closer.
Q: Where can I shop for Dussehra pooja items near Colleyville? A: Swadeshi in Southlake is the closest Indian grocery with a full range of sweets, dry goods, agarbatti, and other pooja supplies. Hareli Fresh Market in Southlake is another nearby option.
Q: What is the significance of Dussehra for the South Asian diaspora? A: Beyond its religious meaning, Dussehra functions as a cultural anchor for diaspora communities. It marks the end of Navratri's social season, brings extended families together, and reinforces community ties across generations. For South Asian families in Colleyville and surrounding cities, it is one of the most anticipated evenings of the year — a moment when the community gathers, celebrates, and passes the traditions on.
Bottom Line
Dussehra 2026 on October 20 is a date worth marking for the South Asian community in Colleyville and across the DFW Metroplex. While Colleyville is a quieter city than some of its neighbors, Madras Mojo Indian Restaurant provides a local South Indian dining anchor, Swadeshi in Southlake covers grocery and pooja supply needs, and Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas in Allen is the region's focal point for public Ravan Dahan and Garba celebrations. The festival is about more than fireworks — it is the annual, communal reminder that good prevails, and that culture travels well. 🎊
