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

TL;DR

• Dussehra 2026 falls on October 20 — Vijayadashami, the triumphant tenth day of Navratri 🪔
• Navratri begins October 11 with nine nights of Garba, Durga puja, and community worship across Nanded's neighborhoods
• Durga Ashtami on October 19 is the peak puja day before Dussehra's arrival
• Balaji Temple in Paras Nagar and Sai Baba temple on Chitanya Nagar road are focal points for the season
• Ravan Dahan gatherings, processions, and festive meals mark the evening of October 20

What Dussehra Means in Nanded

Dussehra — Vijayadashami — marks the victory of righteousness over evil, and no other festival quite matches its combination of solemnity and spectacle. The most widely observed narrative is Lord Rama's defeat of Ravana, marked by Ravan Dahan: the ritual burning of the demon king's effigy as crowds cheer and firecrackers light the sky. In Maharashtra's tradition, which shapes how Nanded observes the day, the festival also carries the weight of Shami Puja — the worship of the Shami tree — and Aparajita Puja, in which the goddess is honored for her own victory.

Nanded is a city with a dense spiritual fabric: the presence of the sacred Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, alongside a network of Hindu mandirs across its neighborhoods, gives the city a particular devotional depth. For families in Marathwada, Vijayadashami on October 20 closes a ten-day season of devotion that began with the first night of Navratri on October 11.

Navratri: The Nine Nights That Build to Dussehra

Dussehra cannot be separated from the nine nights that precede it. Navratri begins on October 11, 2026, and each day is dedicated to a specific form of the goddess — from Shailputri on the first night to Siddhidatri on the ninth — worshipped with specific colors, flowers, and bhog offerings.

In Nanded, Navratri brings Garba and Dandiya Raas gatherings to neighborhood grounds and community spaces. Temples see extended puja sessions every evening through the nine nights. The streets around Paras Nagar and Chaitanya Nagar fill with devotional music, and the smell of incense drifts through residential lanes well into the night. For children and families, this stretch of evenings is among the most memorable of the year.

Durga Ashtami falls on October 19 — the eighth day of Navratri and its ritual peak. Special havan ceremonies, kumari puja (the worship of young girls as embodiments of the goddess), and abhishekam are performed at mandirs across Nanded. The city's temples are at their most active on this day before the grand close of Vijayadashami.

Temples at the Heart of Nanded's Dussehra

Balaji Temple, Paras Nagar

Balaji Temple in Paras Nagar is one of Nanded's significant focal points during the Navratri and Dussehra season. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Balaji), the temple draws steady crowds through the nine nights of Navratri, with Dussehra morning bringing its largest darshan gathering. The temple community organizes prasad distributions and a special aarti on Vijayadashami morning, making it a natural destination for families whose Dussehra tradition includes an early temple visit.

Sai Baba Temple, Chitanya Nagar Road

Sai Baba temple on Chitanya Nagar road holds particular significance for Nanded's communities. Nanded carries a deep Sai Baba devotional tradition, and the temple sees continuous footfall during festival seasons. On Dussehra, families who complete morning puja here often continue to the nearby Shiv Mandir to round out their darshan circuit. The area around Chaitanya Nagar Road becomes especially animated during Navratri evenings.

Shiv Mandir, Chaitanya Nagar Road

Shiv Mandir on Chaitanya Nagar Road serves the residential areas around it with daily puja and festival-season programming. During Navratri, the mandir holds extended evening sessions with special Devi shloka recitations alongside its regular Shiva puja schedule. It is a walking distance from the Sai Baba temple for families covering the Chaitanya Nagar area in a single morning.

Hanuman Mandir, Kharbi

Hanuman Mandir in Kharbi anchors the Kharbi locality's families with daily and festival-season rituals. On Dussehra, after the formal morning puja, many families proceed to Ravan Dahan grounds in the evening. The Hanuman Mandir community participates in the neighborhood's Vijayadashami observances, and the area around Kharbi road sees processions and celebrations as the day builds toward the evening.

The Festival Calendar Surrounding Dussehra

The Dussehra season sits within a wider arc of observances that stretches from late August through October. Here is the full relevant calendar for Nanded in 2026:

From Ganesh Chaturthi in September through Navratri and Dussehra in October, the autumn season in Nanded is one of sustained devotional energy. Karva Chauth on October 29 closes the celebratory stretch with a fasting-and-celebration ritual for married couples, carrying the festive spirit through to the very end of the month.

What Dussehra Evening Looks Like in Nanded

By the afternoon of October 20, the city's energy shifts into its festive peak. Families dress in new clothes — Dussehra is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar for new beginnings, and wearing or purchasing something new on Vijayadashami is a widely observed custom in Marathwada households.

In the evening, the city gathers at designated open grounds for Ravan Dahan. A large Ravana effigy — often flanked by those of Meghanada and Kumbhkarna — is set alight as the crowd chants. The moment the effigy burns, it is accompanied by firecrackers, drums, and collective cheering. Many families watch from the surrounding grounds while children hold sparklers.

After Ravan Dahan, households return for festive meals. Puris, sweet rice preparations, and seasonal vegetables are traditional on this day in Marathwada. The exchange of Shami leaves between neighbors — a Maharashtrian Dussehra custom — continues through the evening, each gift carrying the blessing associated with victory and new beginnings.

Insider Tip: The best spots for Ravan Dahan in Nanded fill up well before sunset. Head to the grounds near your neighborhood early — at least an hour before the event is scheduled — and position your family away from the firecrackers' direct path. Families with young children should plan for the crowd and bring something for the wait.

FAQ

Q: Is Dussehra a public holiday in Nanded? A: Vijayadashami is a gazetted public holiday in Maharashtra and across India. Schools, government offices, and most businesses are closed on October 20, 2026.

Q: What is Shami Puja, and is it observed in Nanded? A: On Vijayadashami, Marathi families worship the Shami tree, associated with both Lord Rama's victory and the Pandavas. Shami leaves are exchanged between neighbors and family members as a blessing, accompanied by the traditional Marathi greeting for the occasion. This custom is observed widely in Nanded as part of the Maharashtrian Dussehra tradition.

Q: What is the difference between Navratri and Dussehra? A: Navratri is the nine-night festival of the goddess, beginning October 11 and concluding on Navami. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is the tenth day that follows, celebrating the victory of the deity — whether Lord Rama, Goddess Durga, or regional forms — over evil. Durga Ashtami on October 19 marks the puja's highest point before the close on October 20.

Q: Where can families witness Ravan Dahan in Nanded? A: Ravan Dahan events are organized at designated open grounds across the city's neighborhoods, typically near market areas and community centers. The events near main gathering areas tend to have the largest effigies and crowds. Check locally for the site nearest to your neighborhood.

Q: How do families celebrate at home on Dussehra? A: Home celebrations begin with morning puja — flowers, kumkum, and a lamp — often followed by a temple visit. New clothes or jewelry are traditionally worn or purchased on this auspicious day. In the evening, families attend Ravan Dahan before sharing a festive meal. The exchange of Shami leaves with neighbors is a distinctive Maharashtrian custom that continues through the evening.

Bottom Line

Dussehra 2026 on October 20 brings one of Nanded's most dramatic and communal evenings — Ravan Dahan lighting up the sky while the city gathers to mark the victory of dharma. The nine nights of Navratri that build toward it, with Durga Ashtami reaching its peak on October 19, create a rhythm of devotion that draws every neighborhood together. Whether you attend morning puja at Balaji Temple in Paras Nagar, Sai Baba temple on Chitanya Nagar road, Shiv Mandir, or Hanuman Mandir in Kharbi, the spirit of Vijayadashami fills Nanded with a shared sense of renewal and triumph.