Dussehra 2026 in Redmond: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate
TL;DR
- Dussehra (Vijayadashami) falls on October 20-21, 2026 — a major marking of good over evil in Hindu tradition. 🪔
- Redmond's South Asian community is served by multiple temples that hold puja, abhishekam, and homam through the Navratri window.
- Navratri Garba and Dandiya Raas events — the festive nights leading up to Dussehra — are organized annually in the Seattle metro area. 🎊
- Puja timing matters: the auspicious muhurtam for Vijayadashami in the Seattle timezone is published on Hindu calendar sites each season.
- Community event listings on platforms like Sulekha are updated in September — set a reminder to check early if you want tickets. 🗓️
What Is Dussehra and When Does It Fall in 2026?
Dussehra — also called Vijayadashami — marks the tenth day of Navratri, the nine-night festival dedicated to the goddess Durga. In the Hindu calendar for 2026, Vijayadashami falls on October 20-21, depending on timezone calculations for Seattle, Washington. It commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, and in many regional traditions it also marks the moment Goddess Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura.
In practice, Dussehra celebrations in the diaspora often span the full Navratri window — nine nights of Garba and Dandiya Raas, ending with the Dussehra day itself when Ayudha Puja (veneration of tools and instruments) and Vijayadashami rituals are observed. For families not from a Garba tradition, Dussehra still carries meaning as a day for new beginnings: enrolling children in music or martial arts lessons on Vijayadashami is considered auspicious in many households.
Temples and Prayer Centers in Redmond
Redmond is home to several established Hindu institutions that mark Navratri and Dussehra with dedicated programming.
SVETA LV Temple (Sri Venkateswara Edukondala Temple Association, also known as Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple), at 18109 NE 76th St, STE#105, Redmond, WA 98052, is one of the most active South Indian temples on the Eastside. Throughout the year the temple holds regular abhishekams, homams, and upakarma events. During Navratri, South Indian-tradition temples like SVETA LV typically observe Saraswati Puja, Ayudha Puja, and Vijayadashami puja on successive days. Check their event calendar at lvtemple.org for the confirmed Dussehra schedule as October approaches.
VEDA Temple (Vaishnava Eka Dharma Association), at 7305 208th Avenue NE in Redmond, is another community anchor. VEDA Temple runs annual calendar events including upakarma, Varshikotsavam, and festival-season programming. Their website at vedatemple.org is the primary source for their event schedule and registration details.
Redmond Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit at 18210 Redmond Way, Unit 3, serves the broader Redmond community and maintains an events calendar covering the major Hindu festivals through the year. This center tends toward an interfaith approach, welcoming devotees from multiple regional traditions. Their site at redmondhindutempleandculturalcenter.org carries current event listings. For visitors new to the area, this can be a practical first stop — the center's programming often runs alongside outreach for newcomers.
Chinmaya Mission Seattle, based at 15790 Redmond Way in Redmond, brings a different flavor: Vedanta study circles, Bala Vihar classes for children, and discourses oriented toward spiritual education. While Chinmaya missions do mark festival days, their Dussehra observance often takes the form of lectures and Ramayana readings rather than ritual puja.
Navratri Garba and Dandiya Raas in the Seattle Metro
The nine nights before Dussehra are defined by Garba and Dandiya Raas — circle dances performed to devotional music that have become major community events in diaspora cities across the US. The Seattle metro area, including Redmond and nearby Bellevue, hosts organized Navratri events each October.
Insider Tip: Dandiya Raas events in the Eastside area tend to sell out within the first week of advance ticket sales — especially the weekend nights that fall during Navratri. Listings on platforms like Sulekha's Navratri Dandiya page for Redmond, WA are updated as early as September; set a reminder to check in mid-September if you want tickets before the early-buyer window closes. South Asian grocery stores and community Facebook groups often circulate discount codes for advance purchases.
Community-organized events — often put together by regional associations representing Gujarati, Rajasthani, and broader North Indian traditions — are the primary venue for Garba in this area. Temple programs lean more toward devotional singing (bhajan, kirtan) and Durga puja rather than Dandiya. Both types of programming have their place, and many families attend both.
Puja at Home: Dussehra Basics
For families observing Dussehra at home, the central practice is simple: a clean puja space, an image or idol of the deity being honored, flowers, incense, and a lamp. On Vijayadashami specifically, the tradition of Shastra Puja — placing tools, instruments, or equipment before the deity — is common. This can range from a musician offering their instrument to a professional placing their laptop before the lamp.
For families following the South Indian tradition, the puja begins with setting up a Golu — a step-display of figurines across the nine days of Navratri — and Vijayadashami marks the day the display is taken down after final prayers.
A streamlined Dussehra puja for busy households: light a ghee lamp, offer red hibiscus or marigold, recite the Chamundaye or Durga mantra nine times, and distribute prasad. It takes about twenty minutes and carries the full weight of the occasion.
FAQ
Q: When exactly is Dussehra 2026 in Seattle? Vijayadashami in 2026 falls on October 20-21, 2026. The exact muhurtam time for Seattle's timezone is published on Hindu calendar sites like Drik Panchang in the weeks before the date.
Q: Which Redmond temple is best for a Vijayadashami puja if I follow South Indian traditions? SVETA LV Temple at 18109 NE 76th St follows South Indian temple traditions and typically observes Saraswati Puja, Ayudha Puja, and Vijayadashami with proper rites. Confirm the schedule at lvtemple.org as October approaches.
Q: Where can I find Navratri Garba events in 2026 near Redmond? Sulekha's Navratri Dandiya event listings for Redmond, WA are updated each season and are a reliable aggregator for ticketed events. Local South Asian Facebook groups and Indian grocery store bulletin boards are parallel resources.
Q: Is Dussehra a public holiday in Washington State? No. It is observed through temple visits, home puja, and cultural events, but it is not a recognized federal or Washington State holiday.
Q: Can non-Hindus attend temple events during Dussehra? Most Hindu temples in Redmond, including Redmond Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, welcome visitors of all backgrounds. Dress modestly, remove shoes before entering the sanctum, and follow the temple's posted protocols.
Bottom Line
Redmond's South Asian community has the institutional depth to make Dussehra 2026 a full celebration — from puja at SVETA LV Temple and VEDA Temple to Garba nights organized by community groups across the Eastside. Start planning in September: check temple calendars, secure Dandiya event tickets early, and if you observe the full Navratri, set up your home puja space for the nine days leading up to Vijayadashami.