Dussehra 2026 in San Antonio: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR

• Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 20, with Navratri running October 11-20 in San Antonio 📅
• Hindu Temple of San Antonio in Helotes is the most established Hindu institution in the metro, serving the Indian/Desi community city-wide
• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on the North Side hosts garba nights in the Swaminarayan tradition each Navratri 🛕
• Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of San Antonio on Babcock Rd is a Sai devotee hub with regular festival events
• Krishna Temple of San Antonio (ISKCON) runs open Sunday programs and marks Vijayadashami with Vaishnava observances 🙏

When Dussehra Falls in 2026 📅

Vijayadashami — Dussehra — arrives on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as the culmination of the ten-day Navratri cycle beginning Sunday, October 11. For Indian/Desi residents of San Antonio, October is the focal month of the Hindu festival calendar.

The holiday carries different meanings depending on regional background. North Indian families mark it primarily as Ravan Dahan — the burning of a Ravana effigy and Rama's triumph over evil. South Indian communities observe Saraswati puja, Ayudha Puja (the blessing of tools and instruments), and Vidyarambham, the auspicious start of new learning. San Antonio's Indian/Desi community is diverse enough regionally that local temples typically plan programming that touches both traditions.

San Antonio does not have the Indian/Desi population density of Houston or Dallas, but the community is established, organized, and temple-going. The city's major Hindu institutions are spread geographically — from the scenic hills of Helotes to the North Side Loop 1604 corridor — meaning different parts of the metro are reasonably covered.

The Temples of San Antonio 🛕

Hindu Temple of San Antonio (HTSA), located at 18518 Bandera Rd in Helotes, is the most established Hindu institution in the city. Accessible from most of San Antonio within 20 minutes, HTSA sits in the Texas Hill Country foothills and draws Indian/Desi families from across the metro for Sunday puja, which traditionally starts at 10:30 AM. The temple's mission centers on Sanatana Dharma and the organization hosts celebrations for all major Hindu festivals through the year. Hindu Temple of San Antonio is the most likely venue for a dedicated Vijayadashami puja in 2026 — check hindutemplesatx.org as October approaches for the confirmed Navratri and Dussehra calendar.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at 5044 N Loop 1604 W serves the San Antonio Indian/Desi community from a North Side location that many families can reach without crossing the city center. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir hosts its Navratri observances according to Swaminarayan tradition, which includes garba and devotional programs. The San Antonio center maintains its event calendar through baps.org, and Navratri garba nights here draw Gujarati families and other Indian community members from across the metro.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of San Antonio at 12911 Babcock Rd is a dedicated Sai devotee space with morning and evening darshan throughout the week, and extended Saturday and Sunday timings. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of San Antonio typically participates in Navratri-season programming and serves as a gathering point for devotees from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh backgrounds. Its official site is saisanantonio.org.

Krishna Temple of San Antonio — the local ISKCON center at 103 Bernice St — runs weekly Sunday programs with kirtan, Bhagavad Gita classes, and prasadam. During Navratri and Dussehra season, Krishna Temple of San Antonio holds special programs honoring the Vaishnava significance of Vijayadashami. The temple is open to all backgrounds and has historically served as an entry point for Indian/Desi residents new to the city who are looking for community.

Navratri Garba and Community Events

San Antonio's Navratri garba scene is smaller than Houston's or Dallas's, but the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir garba nights tend to be well-organized and draw participation from across the city's Indian/Desi community. Telugu Association of San Antonio (TASA) and Tamil community organizations sometimes organize separate cultural events during the Navratri period — check community Facebook groups in late September for confirmed 2026 events.

For Dussehra specifically, the most likely gathering points are Hindu Temple of San Antonio in Helotes for the main Vijayadashami puja and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for garba on Navami (the ninth night, October 19) and the Dussehra celebrations on October 20.

Insider Tip: San Antonio's Indian/Desi community runs largely through WhatsApp and Facebook groups organized by Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, and Punjabi regional associations — each operates semi-independently. Following both the Hindu Temple of San Antonio's page and the BAPS San Antonio page on social media is the fastest way to get reliable 2026 event updates without relying on word-of-mouth alone.

FAQ

When is Dussehra 2026 in San Antonio? Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Navratri starts October 11 and ends October 20.

Is there a significant Indian community in San Antonio? Yes, though smaller than Houston or Dallas. San Antonio has a steady Indian/Desi population concentrated in the medical center area, North Side, and Stone Oak neighborhoods, with multiple temples and cultural associations active throughout the year.

Does Hindu Temple of San Antonio hold Dussehra events? Historically yes — the temple observes all major Hindu festivals including Navratri and Dussehra. Confirm specific 2026 programming by checking hindutemplesatx.org closer to October.

Does BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in San Antonio hold garba? Yes. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is the main garba venue in San Antonio for Navratri. The specific 2026 schedule will appear on baps.org.

What about Ravan Dahan in San Antonio? Large outdoor Ravan Dahan events depend on venue permits and community organization capacity. Watch Indian community Facebook groups and temple announcements in September 2026 for confirmed outdoor events.

Bottom Line

San Antonio's Indian/Desi community may not rival Houston in size, but Dussehra 2026 has real options: Hindu Temple of San Antonio for the Vijayadashami puja anchor, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for organized garba, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of San Antonio for devotional observance, and Krishna Temple of San Antonio for the Vaishnava community. With Navratri beginning October 11 and Dussehra on October 20, plan your calendar around the temple schedule updates that will post in late September.