Dussehra 2026 in Columbus: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🪔

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 20 — the tenth and final day of Navratri
• The nine-day Navratri period begins October 11, with Durga Ashtami on October 18 and Dussehra on October 20
• Columbus's Indian community centers its celebrations at Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple, ISKCON Columbus, and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
• Garba nights, Ramlila recitations, Ayudha Puja, and community pujas are the main forms of celebration in Columbus
• Karva Chauth follows on October 29 — a packed festival month for the community overall

Dussehra marks the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana — the defeat of adharma by dharma — and closes the ten-day Navratri period. For the Indian community in Columbus, October 2026 is one of the most socially concentrated months of the year: nine nights of Navratri Garba leading to Vijayadashami, followed by Karva Chauth nine days after. This density of observances pulls community members together in ways that ordinary weekends do not.

When Is Dussehra 2026 in Columbus?

Navratri begins on Sunday, October 11, 2026 and runs through Durga Ashtami on Saturday, October 18 and Dussehra on Tuesday, October 20. Vijay Muhurat on Vijayadashami — the auspicious window considered ideal for beginning new ventures, performing Shami Puja, and Ayudha Puja — falls in the afternoon hours of October 20 according to Columbus local time.

Because Dussehra 2026 falls on a Tuesday, many community organizations shift their main public events to the preceding weekend (October 17–18) or to the Saturday following (October 24) to maximize attendance. Confirming specific event dates with individual temples and cultural associations closer to October is advisable, as schedules are typically finalized in late September.

Where the Indian Community Celebrates in Columbus

Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple and Hindu Cultural Center of Ohio

Located at 2764 Sawbury Blvd, Columbus, OH 43235, Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple has served as a spiritual and cultural anchor for Central Ohio's Hindu community since its establishment in September 2012. Dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, the temple runs regular pujas, abhishekams, and festival programming throughout the year.

For Navratri, the temple organizes Durga Puja and special Navratri puja sessions across the nine days, including observances tied to each of the Navadurga forms. Vijayadashami brings Dussehra rituals including Shami Puja and Vijay Tilak. As a Hindu Cultural Center, the temple serves as an organizing hub for community gatherings that bring together families from across regional and linguistic backgrounds — Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Hindi-speaking — under a shared observance.

ISKCON Columbus

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness Columbus, at 379 W 8th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201, is the oldest Hindu temple in Ohio, founded in 1969. While ISKCON's devotional emphasis centers on Lord Krishna and the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, the community observes the full Hindu festival calendar.

For Dussehra, ISKCON Columbus typically organizes Ramlila recitations and Bhagavad Gita discourses focused on the dharmic themes of the season — the nature of dharma, the significance of Ram's victory, and the Vaishnava understanding of Vijayadashami. The temple's proximity to Ohio State University means it draws a regular mix of students, faculty, and longer-established community members. The community kitchen runs an expanded Sunday feast program that takes on added significance during major festivals.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Columbus

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Columbus is located at 5419 East Broad Street, Columbus, and can be reached at +1-614-873-7300. Part of the global BAPS organization, the mandir follows the Swaminarayan tradition of devotional practice and runs one of the more organized Navratri programs in the Columbus metro area.

Navratri at BAPS includes daily puja sessions, evening satsang programs, and Garba organized for community members. The Swaminarayan tradition places particular emphasis on disciplined community worship, and families from across the greater Columbus area — including Dublin, Westerville, and New Albany — attend the mandir's Navratri events.

Insider tip: BAPS Columbus Garba nights tend to reach capacity in the first few days of Navratri. Checking the mandir's schedule at baps.org/columbus in late September gives you event-specific details and any registration requirements. Arriving early on the first weekend (October 11–12) secures your spot before the word spreads.

What to Expect During Navratri and Dussehra

The Navratri-Dussehra period is structured differently in the diaspora than on the subcontinent. Rather than continuous public events across ten days, Columbus's Indian community concentrates its celebrations on weekends and evenings around the October 11–20 window.

Garba — the traditional circular folk dance performed during Navratri, with roots in Gujarat and broader North Indian tradition — is one of the most popular elements. Dandiya Raas, the stick dance form, typically follows Garba sessions. Both are participated in by community members across regional backgrounds, not only those from Gujarat. Community halls, temple premises, and rented banquet venues across Columbus host Garba nights on the Navratri weekends.

On Dussehra itself, larger communities in Ohio organize Ravana Dahan — the burning of a Ravana effigy to mark the defeat of evil — where space and local permits allow. Where outdoor events are not feasible, temples substitute with Ram Leela performances, readings, or Shami Puja ceremonies indoors.

Ayudha Puja, the South Indian tradition of worshipping the instruments of one's profession on Dussehra, is observed quietly by many Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada families in Columbus — typically at home or at the temple rather than as a large public gathering.

The Broader October Calendar

After Dussehra on October 20, the festival energy does not pause. Ekadashi falls on October 21 — a fast day for Vaishnava practitioners. Pradosh Vrat on October 23 brings Shiva devotees to temples. Purnima on October 25 marks the full moon of the Ashwin month, observed for ancestral offerings. And Karva Chauth on October 29 — the fast observed by married women for the wellbeing of their husbands — is accompanied by community pre-fast mehendi and puja events organized by cultural associations and women's groups across the city.

For the Indian community in Columbus, this five-week stretch from early October through early November is one of the most socially active periods of the year, with the Diwali season beginning shortly after.

Sri Sai Baba Mandir

Sri Sai Baba Mandir at 2596 Lewis Center Road is another active center in the Columbus area, with programming organized around the Shirdi Sai Baba tradition. The mandir's full calendar is available at srisaimandir.org, and it observes major festivals across the Hindu calendar including Navratri and the associated festival days in October.

FAQ

What date is Dussehra 2026 in Columbus? Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Many community events are scheduled on the adjacent weekend.

Where does the Indian community in Columbus celebrate Navratri? Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple, ISKCON Columbus, and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir are the main centers. Garba nights are also organized at community halls and banquet venues — check local Indian association social media channels closer to October.

What is Ayudha Puja? Ayudha Puja is a Dussehra tradition observed especially in South Indian communities. Practitioners worship the tools, vehicles, or instruments of their profession. In the diaspora, this is typically observed at home or at the temple.

Is Dussehra a public holiday in Ohio? No. Dussehra is not a public holiday in Ohio. Community events are organized for evenings and weekends around October 20.

How do I find specific Garba and Dussehra events in Columbus? Temples post schedules in late September. Checking baps.org/columbus, iskconcolumbus.com, and srilakshmiganeshtemple.org directly, along with local Indian community Facebook groups, gives the most current event details.

Bottom Line

The Navratri-Dussehra stretch is the centerpiece of fall festival life for Columbus's Indian community. Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple, ISKCON Columbus, and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir each organize their own programming — Garba nights, Ramlila recitations, and Dussehra puja as the core events. October 20 is Dussehra itself; the weekends of October 11–12 and October 17–18 are where most community events cluster. Check temple websites starting in late September for specific timings and, where applicable, registration links.